Doubt \Doubt\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dou?ted; p. pr. & vb. n. Doubting.]

[OE. duten, douten, OF. duter, doter, douter, F. douter, fr. L. dubitare; akin to dubius doubtful. See Dubious.]

1. To waver in opinion or judgment; to be in uncertainty as to belief respecting anything; to hesitate in belief; to be undecided as to the truth of the negative or the affirmative proposition; to b e undetermined.

Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt, and suspend our judgment. --Hooker.

To try your love and make you doubt of mine. --Dryden.

2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive. [Obs.]

Syn: To waver; vacillate; fluctuate; hesitate; demur; scruple; question.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Doubt \Doubt\, v. t.

1. To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold confidence from; to distrust; as, I have heard the story, but I doubt the truth of it.

To admire superior sense, and doubt their own! --Pope.

I doubt not that however changed, you keep So much of what is graceful. --Tennyson.

To doubt not but.

I do not doubt but I have been to blame. --Dryden.

We doubt not now But every rub is smoothed on our way. --Shak.

Note: That is, we have no doubt to prevent us from believing, etc. (or notwithstanding all that may be said to the contrary) -- but having a preventive sense, after verbs of ``doubting'' and ``denying'' that convey a notion of hindrance. --E. A. Abbott.

2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive of. [Obs.]

Edmond [was a] good man and doubted God. --R. of Gloucester.

I doubt some foul play. --Shak.

That I of doubted danger had no fear. --Spenser.

3. To fill with fear; to affright. [Obs.]

The virtues of the valiant Caratach More doubt me than all Britain. --Beau. & Fl.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Doubt \Doubt\, n. [OE. dute, doute, F. doute, fr. douter to doubt. See Doubt, v. i.]

1. A fluctuation of mind arising from defect of knowledge or evidence; uncertainty of judgment or mind; unsettled state of opinion concerning the reality of an event, or the truth of an assertion, etc.; hesitation.

Doubt is the beginning and the end of our efforts to know. --Sir W. Hamilton.

Doubt, in order to be operative in requiring an acquittal, is not the want of perfect certainty (which can never exist in any question of fact) but a defect of proof preventing a reasonable assurance of quilt. --Wharton.

2. Uncertainty of condition.

Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee. --Deut. xxviii. 66.

3. Suspicion; fear; apprehension; dread. [Obs.]

I stand in doubt of you. --Gal. iv. 20.

Nor slack her threatful hand for danger's doubt. --Spenser.

4. Difficulty expressed or urged for solution; point unsettled; objection.

To every doubt your answer is the same. --Blackmore.

No doubt, undoubtedly; without doubt.

Out of doubt, beyond doubt. [Obs.]

--Spenser.

Syn: Uncertainty; hesitation; suspense; indecision; irresolution; distrust; suspicion; scruple; perplexity; ambiguity; skepticism.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)