Doubt — Defs

01 v. i. 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 tr…

imp. & p. p. Doubted; p. pr. & vb. n. Doubting

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.

02 v. t. To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold confidence f…

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.

“I do not doubt but I have been to blame.” — Dryden.

“We doubt not now But every rub is smoothed on our way.” — Shak.
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.

03 n. A fluctuation of mind arising from defect of knowledge or evidence; uncertainty of judgment or mind; unsettled state of opinion concerning …

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.

Phrases & compounds

No doubt — undoubtedly; without doubt.

Out of doubt — beyond doubt.