belief

/bə-ˈlēf/

Middle English beleave, probably alteration of Old English gelēafa, from ge-, associative prefix + lēafa; akin to Old English lȳfan

noun

  1. a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing

  2. something that is accepted, considered to be true, or held as an opinion : something believed; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group

  3. conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence

her belief in God

belief faith credence credit mean assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance. belief may or may not imply certitude in the believer. faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof.

idiom

  1. —used to indicate that increasing number of people are coming to a particular belief

idiom

  1. to be unbelievable or not deserving to be believed : to defy belief

It almost beggars belief that anyone can be so cruel.