4 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Doubt \Doubt\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Dou?ted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Doubting}.] [OE. duten, douten, OF. duter, doter, douter, F.
douter, fr. L. dubitare; akin to dubius doubtful. See
{Dubious}.]
1. 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.
Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we
may lawfully doubt, and suspend our judgment.
--Hooker.
To try your love and make you doubt of mine.
--Dryden.
2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive. [Obs.]
Syn: To waver; vacillate; fluctuate; hesitate; demur;
scruple; question.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Doubt \Doubt\, v. t.
1. 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; as, I have heard
the story, but I doubt the truth of it.
To admire superior sense, and doubt their own!
--Pope.
I doubt not that however changed, you keep So much
of what is graceful. --Tennyson.
{To doubt not but}.
I do not doubt but I have been to blame. --Dryden.
We doubt not now But every rub is smoothed on our
way. --Shak.
Note: That is, we have no doubt to prevent us from believing,
etc. (or notwithstanding all that may be said to the
contrary) -- but having a preventive sense, after verbs
of ``doubting'' and ``denying'' that convey a notion of
hindrance. --E. A. Abbott.
2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive of. [Obs.]
Edmond [was a] good man and doubted God. --R. of
Gloucester.
I doubt some foul play. --Shak.
That I of doubted danger had no fear. --Spenser.
3. To fill with fear; to affright. [Obs.]
The virtues of the valiant Caratach More doubt me
than all Britain. --Beau. & Fl.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Doubt \Doubt\, n. [OE. dute, doute, F. doute, fr. douter to
doubt. See {Doubt}, v. i.]
1. 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.
Doubt is the beginning and the end of our efforts to
know. --Sir W.
Hamilton.
Doubt, in order to be operative in requiring an
acquittal, is not the want of perfect certainty
(which can never exist in any question of fact) but
a defect of proof preventing a reasonable assurance
of quilt. --Wharton.
2. Uncertainty of condition.
Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee. --Deut.
xxviii. 66.
3. Suspicion; fear; apprehension; dread. [Obs.]
I stand in doubt of you. --Gal. iv. 20.
Nor slack her threatful hand for danger's doubt.
--Spenser.
4. Difficulty expressed or urged for solution; point
unsettled; objection.
To every doubt your answer is the same. --Blackmore.
{No doubt}, undoubtedly; without doubt.
{Out of doubt}, beyond doubt. [Obs.] --Spenser.
Syn: Uncertainty; hesitation; suspense; indecision;
irresolution; distrust; suspicion; scruple; perplexity;
ambiguity; skepticism.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
doubt
n 1: the state of being unsure of something [syn: {uncertainty},
{incertitude}, {dubiety}, {doubtfulness}, {dubiousness}]
[ant: {certainty}]
2: uncertainty about the truth or factuality of existence of
something; "the dubiousness of his claim"; "there is no
question about the validity of the enterprise" [syn: {dubiousness},
{doubtfulness}, {question}]
v 1: consider unlikely or have doubts about; "I doubt that she
will accept his proposal of marriage"
2: lack confidence in or have doubts about; "I doubt these
reports"; "I suspect her true motives"; "she distrusts her
stepmother"