/bi leef"/ , n.
1. something believed; an opinion or conviction: a belief that the earth is flat.
2. confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof: a statement unworthy of belief.
3. confidence; faith; trust: a child's belief in his parents.
4. a religious tenet or tenets; religious creed or faith: the Christian belief.
[ 1125-75; earlier bile ( e ) ve (n. use of v.); r. ME bileave, equiv. to bi- BE- + leave; cf. OE geleafa (c. D geloof, G Glaube; akin to Goth galaubeins ) ]
Syn. 1. view, tenet, conclusion, persuasion. 2. assurance. BELIEF, CERTAINTY, CONVICTION refer to acceptance of, or confidence in, an alleged fact or body of facts as true or right without positive knowledge or proof. BELIEF is such acceptance in general: belief in astrology. CERTAINTY indicates unquestioning belief and positiveness in one's own mind that something is true: I know this for a certainty. CONVICTION is settled, profound, or earnest belief that something is right: a conviction that a decision is just. 4. doctrine, dogma.