Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A redoubt.
- noun Uncertainty with regard to the truth of a given proposition or assertion; suspense of judgment arising from defect of evidence or of inclination; an unsettled state of opinion; indecision of belief.
- noun A matter of uncertainty; an undecided case or proposition; a ground of hesitation.
- noun A difficulty suggested or proposed for solution; an objection.
- noun Difficulty; danger.
- noun Hesitating apprehension; fear; dread.
- noun Synonyms Indecision, irresolution, suspense, hesitation, hesitancy, misgiving, distrust, mistrust.
- To be uncertain as to a truth or fact; be undetermined or undecided; waver or fluctuate in opinion; hesitate.
- To be in fear; be afraid.
- To be uncertain as to the truth or fact of; hold in question; question; hesitate to believe: as, to
doubt the truth of a story. - To be expectant or apprehensive of; believe hesitatingly or indefinitely.
- To distrust; be uncertain with regard to; be distrustful of: as, to
doubt one's ability to execute a task. - To fear; be afraid of.
- To cause to fear; put in fear; appal; daunt.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- intransitive verb To waver in opinion or judgment; to be in uncertainty as to belief respecting anything; to hesitate in belief; to be undecided as to the truth of the negative or the affirmative proposition; to b e undetermined.
- intransitive verb obsolete To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive.
- transitive verb To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold confidence from; to distrust.
- transitive verb obsolete To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive of.
- transitive verb obsolete To fill with fear; to affright.
- noun A fluctuation of mind arising from defect of knowledge or evidence; uncertainty of judgment or mind; unsettled state of opinion concerning the reality of an event, or the truth of an assertion, etc.; hesitation.
- noun Uncertainty of condition.
- noun obsolete Suspicion; fear; apprehension; dread.
- noun Difficulty expressed or urged for solution; point unsettled; objection.
- noun undoubtedly; without doubt.
- noun [Obs.] beyond doubt.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To lack confidence in; to
disbelieve ,question , orsuspect . - verb archaic To
fear ; tosuspect . - noun
Uncertainty ,disbelief .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb lack confidence in or have doubts about
- verb consider unlikely or have doubts about
- noun the state of being unsure of something
- noun uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Carolos Duran has already seen my sketch for one, and he says there is not a doubt -- _not a doubt_ -- that it will be considered.
A Daughter of To-Day Sara Jeannette Duncan
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Doubt strikes at the root of Justice and of Love -- not the doubt that is the half-brother to Disbelief, but the doubt which wonders always and always if we believe most easily what we _want to believe_, and if our firmest conviction against such Belief is not, more than anything else, yet one more manifestation of what we desire so earnestly _to doubt_.
Over the Fireside with Silent Friends Richard King 1913
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_point device_ companions, such rackers of orthography, as to speak doubt _fine_ when _he should say doubt_, etc.
The Philosophy of the Plays of Shakspere Unfolded Delia Bacon 1835
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There's no doubt, sir; there's _no doubt_ that it was the spirit of Mr. Frederick Massingbird. "
Verner's Pride Henry Wood 1850
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"No doubt -- Ay, do you hear that _no doubt_, Colambre?
Tales and Novels — Volume 06 Maria Edgeworth 1808
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III. i.151 (367,7) That love the fundamental part of state/More than you doubt the change of't] To _doubt_ is to _fear_.
Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies Samuel Johnson 1746
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The reason I go to riesling when I'm in doubt is the racy acidity that good ones feature -- and this one has it in spades.
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It further emphasizes the papal benediction of the same, which, while not in doubt, is relevant again for the reason of these factors.
Some Considerations of the Lateran Mass of Cardinal Cañizares 2009
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The reason I go to riesling when I'm in doubt is the racy acidity that good ones feature -- and this one has it in spades.
LENNDEVOURS: 2009
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The reason I go to riesling when I'm in doubt is the racy acidity that good ones feature -- and this one has it in spades.
Wine Blogging Wednesday #53: McGregor Vineyard 2007 Dry Riesling 2009
anydelirium commented on the word doubt
'"You should never, ever doubt what nobody is sure of."' -Willy Wonka in the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
February 18, 2008
milosrdenstvi commented on the word doubt
I think there are very few words that I like the SOUND of as much as this one.
August 28, 2009
gangerh commented on the word doubt
Are you sure, 'vi?
August 28, 2009
milosrdenstvi commented on the word doubt
No doubt about it!
August 28, 2009
hernesheir commented on the word doubt
Kudos and a laurel wreath to the Wordie who can tell us just how Irish Gaelic dubh might relate to this word. Care to chime in qroqqa or sionnach?
August 28, 2009
gangerh commented on the word doubt
I don't think I'd believe it.
August 28, 2009
chained_bear commented on the word doubt
Dubh means black, right? So... Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.
That's my story, anyhow. :)
August 28, 2009
qroqqa commented on the word doubt
I've heard of some cargo cult etymology that connects them. The Latin dubit- is actually a frequentative of a contracted form of du-hib-, i.e. (allowing for Old Latin weak vowel changes) du- "two" + hab- "have", thus "have two things in mind". Or at least that is vastly more likely.
August 28, 2009
biligsiz commented on the word doubt
doubt comes into my mind when I feel so weak.
January 22, 2013