BELIEVES
Verb
believes
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of believe
Source: Wiktionary
BELIEVE
Be*lieve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Believed; p. pr. & vb. n. Believing.]
Etym: [OE. bileven (with pref. be- for AS. ge-), fr. AS. gel, gel;
akin to D. gelooven, OHG. gilouban, G. glauben, OS. gil, Goth.
galaubjan, and Goth. liubs dear. See Lief, a., Leave, n.]
Definition: To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or
testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence
furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by
circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as
true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a
person, a statement, or a doctrine.
Our conqueror (whom I now Of force believe almighty). Milton.
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets Acts xxvi.
Often followed by a dependent clause. I believe that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God. Acts viii. 37.
Syn.
– See Expect.
Be*lieve", v. i.
1. To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have
a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark ix. 24.
With the heart man believeth unto righteousness. Rom. x. 10.
2. To think; to suppose.
I will not believe so meanly of you. Fielding.
To believe in. (a) To believe that the subject of the thought (if a
person or thing) exists, or (if an event) that it has occurred, or
will occur; -- as, to believe in the resurrection of the dead. "She
does not believe in Jupiter." J. H. Newman. (b) To believe that the
character, abilities, and purposes of a person are worthy of entire
confidence; -- especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy.
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
me." John xiv. 1. (c) To believe that the qualities or effects of an
action or state are beneficial: as, to believe in sea bathing, or in
abstinence from alcoholic beverages.
– To believe on, to accept implicitly as an object of religious
trust or obedience; to have faith in.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition