faith
[feyth]
- confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
- belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
- belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
- belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.
- a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.
- the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith.
- the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.: He was the only one who proved his faith during our recent troubles.
- Christian Theology. the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.
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- in faith, in truth; indeed: In faith, he is a fine lad.
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Origin of faith
1200–50; Middle English feith < Anglo-French fed, Old French feid, feit < Latin fidem, accusative of fidēs trust, akin to fīdere to trust. See confide
Faith
[feyth]
- a female given name.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
confidencebeliefconvictionacceptanceloyaltytruthhopedenominationreligionsectdoctrinechurchteachingprincipletruthfulnesscertitudefealtyfaithfulnesscredenceconstancyExamples from the Web for faith
Contemporary Examples
Charlie ridiculed my faith and culture and I died defending his right to do so.
He hits bottom at Rocamadour, a sanctuary in the Dordogne known as a citadel of faith devoted to Mary.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim PresidentPierre Assouline
January 9, 2015
The comedian responded to the deadly attack on a French satirical magazine by renewing his recent criticisms of the Islamic faith.
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’Lloyd Grove
January 8, 2015
After the screening, Jolie, who says she renewed her faith in “the divine” during filming, met briefly with the pope.
Pope Francis Has the Pleasure of Meeting Angelina Jolie for a Few SecondsBarbie Latza Nadeau
January 8, 2015
An atheist counsels his fellow non-believers on how not to talk to people of faith.
Historical Examples
One might have been a model for the seraphs of Christian faith, the other an Olympian deity.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
The city-pent, as we have intimated, must take this season largely on faith.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
And he was both to batter it down, for he still had the gambler's faith in his luck.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
Yet in the Protectionist dispensation, this has become an article of faith.
'Tis Sixty Years SinceCharles Francis Adams
Have faith in me for a week, mother, and see if I don't earn something in that time.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
faith
- strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp without proof or evidence
- a specific system of religious beliefsthe Jewish faith
- Christianity trust in God and in his actions and promises
- a conviction of the truth of certain doctrines of religion, esp when this is not based on reason
- complete confidence or trust in a person, remedy, etc
- any set of firmly held principles or beliefs
- allegiance or loyalty, as to a person or cause (esp in the phrases keep faith, break faith)
- bad faith insincerity or dishonesty
- good faith honesty or sincerity, as of intention in business (esp in the phrase in good faith)
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- archaic indeed; really (also in the phrases by my faith, in faith)
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Word Origin
C12: from Anglo-French feid, from Latin fidēs trust, confidence
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for faith
n.
mid-13c., "duty of fulfilling one's trust," from Old French feid, foi "faith, belief, trust, confidence, pledge," from Latin fides "trust, faith, confidence, reliance, credence, belief," from root of fidere "to trust," from PIE root *bheidh- (cf. Greek pistis; see bid). For sense evolution, see belief. Theological sense is from late 14c.; religions called faiths since c.1300.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with faith
faith
see act of faith; in bad (good) faith; leap of faith; on faith; pin one's hopes (faith) on.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.