doubt
[dout]
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to be uncertain about something; be undecided in opinion or belief.
noun
Origin of doubt
1175–1225; (v.) Middle English douten < Anglo-French, Old French douter < Latin dubitāre to waver, hesitate, be uncertain (frequentative of OL dubāre), equivalent to dub- doubt + -it- frequentative suffix + -āre infinitive suffix; (noun) Middle English doute < Anglo-French, Old French, derivative of the v.
Synonyms for doubt
Usage note
Doubt and doubtful may be followed by a subordinate clause beginning with that, whether, or if: I doubt that (or whether or if ) the story is true. It is doubtful that (or whether or if ) the story is true. There is some doubt that (or whether or if ) the story is true. In negative or interrogative sentences, that almost always introduces the subordinate clause: I do not doubt that the story is true. Is it doubtful that the story is true? Is there any doubt that the story is true?
The expressions doubt but and doubt but that occur in all varieties of standard speech and writing: I don't doubt but she is sincere. There is no doubt but that the charges will affect his career. Doubt but what occurs mainly in informal speech and writing: There is no doubt but what the rainy weather will hurt the crops.
The expressions doubt but and doubt but that occur in all varieties of standard speech and writing: I don't doubt but she is sincere. There is no doubt but that the charges will affect his career. Doubt but what occurs mainly in informal speech and writing: There is no doubt but what the rainy weather will hurt the crops.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for undoubting
abiding, assured, certain, changeless, clear, confident, constant, convinced, convincing, decided, doubtless, enduring, firm, fixed, genuine, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, persuadedExamples from the Web for undoubting
Historical Examples of undoubting
Mr. Van Wyk took him up in a perfectly cool and undoubting tone.
End of the TetherJoseph Conrad
Such was the undoubting conviction of Jefferson to his dying day.
Memoir of the Life of John Quincy Adams.Josiah Quincy
The old sailors found in us attentive and undoubting listeners.
My First Voyage to Southern SeasW.H.G. Kingston
Write to her at first in the undoubting tone of a lover who has every claim upon her.
Barry LyndonWilliam Makepeace Thackeray
The cardinal experience is an undoubting immediate sense of God.
God and Mr. WellsWilliam Archer
doubt
noun
verb
Word Origin for doubt
C13: from Old French douter, from Latin dubitāre
usage
Where a clause follows doubt in a positive sentence, it was formerly considered correct to use whether (I doubt whether he will come ), but now if and that are also acceptable. In negative statements, doubt is followed by that: I do not doubt that he is telling the truth. In such sentences, but (I do not doubt but that he is telling the truth) is redundant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
doubt
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