From Middle English faith (also fay), borrowed from Old French fei, feid, from Latin fidem. Doublet of foy. Displaced native Old English ġelēafa, which was also a word for belief.
* Old French had [θ] as a final devoiced allophone of /ð/ from lenited Latin /d/; this eventually fell silent in the 12th century. The -th of the Middle English forms is most straightforwardly accounted for as a direct borrowing of a French [θ]. However, it has also been seen as arising from alteration of a French form with -d under influence of English abstract nouns in the suffix -th (e.g., truth, ruth, health, etc.), or as a recharacterization of a French form like fay, fey, fei with the same suffix. Compare Champenois fiate, fiaite, showing the same preservation of the final consonant.
Meanings
(alt-of, alternative, archaic, not-comparable) Alternative form of in faith (“really, truly”).
'Faith, friend,' he says, 'that was a nasty fall for a fellow that has supped weel. Where might your road be gaun to?' 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
“How wonderfully,” said Vincent, “your city dignities unloose the tongue: directly a man has been a mayor, he thinks himself qualified for a Tully at least. Faith, Venables asked me one day, what was the Latin for spouting? and I told him, ‘hippomanes, or a raging humour in mayors.’” 1828, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], Pelham; or, The Adventures of a Gentleman. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC:
From Middle English faith (also fay), borrowed from Old French fei, feid, from Latin fidem. Doublet of foy. Displaced native Old English ġelēafa, which was also a word for belief.
* Old French had [θ] as a final devoiced allophone of /ð/ from lenited Latin /d/; this eventually fell silent in the 12th century. The -th of the Middle English forms is most straightforwardly accounted for as a direct borrowing of a French [θ]. However, it has also been seen as arising from alteration of a French form with -d under influence of English abstract nouns in the suffix -th (e.g., truth, ruth, health, etc.), or as a recharacterization of a French form like fay, fey, fei with the same suffix. Compare Champenois fiate, fiaite, showing the same preservation of the final consonant.
Meanings
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, obsolete) Ellipsis of by my faith.
From Middle English faith (also fay), borrowed from Old French fei, feid, from Latin fidem. Doublet of foy. Displaced native Old English ġelēafa, which was also a word for belief.
* Old French had [θ] as a final devoiced allophone of /ð/ from lenited Latin /d/; this eventually fell silent in the 12th century. The -th of the Middle English forms is most straightforwardly accounted for as a direct borrowing of a French [θ]. However, it has also been seen as arising from alteration of a French form with -d under influence of English abstract nouns in the suffix -th (e.g., truth, ruth, health, etc.), or as a recharacterization of a French form like fay, fey, fei with the same suffix. Compare Champenois fiate, fiaite, showing the same preservation of the final consonant.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A trust or confidence in the intentions or abilities of a person, object, or ideal from prior empirical evidence.
You need to have faith in yourself, that you can overcome your shortcomings and become a good person.
Have faith in him, buddy.
The faithfulness of Old Faithful gives us faith in it.
For we are a nation of believers. Underneath the clamor of building and the rush of our day's pursuits, we are believers in justice and liberty and union, and in our own Union. We believe that every man must someday be free. And we believe in ourselves.
That is the mistake that our enemies have always made. In my lifetime--in depression and in war--they have awaited our defeat. Each time, from the secret places of the American heart, came forth the faith they could not see or that they could not even imagine. It brought us victory. And it will again. 1965, 18:00 from the start, in Lyndon B. Johnson inaugural address: January 20, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson (actor), CBS News:
I have faith in the goodness of my fellow man.
[…]with a mentality anchored in a profoundly influential and persistent hostility to central features of the Enlightment faith in the theoretical and practical autonomy of the human subject. 1999, Nicholas Walker, “The Reorientation of Critical Theory: Habermas”, in Simon Glemdinning, editor, The Edinburgh Encyclopedia of Continental Philosophy, Routledge, →ISBN, page 489:
(countable, uncountable) A conviction about abstractions, ideas, or beliefs, without empirical evidence, experience, or observation.
We have but faith: we cannot know;
For knowledge is of things we see
And yet we trust it comes from thee,
A beam in darkness: let it grow. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Prologue”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 17:19–20:
I have faith that my prayers will be answered.
I have faith in the healing power of crystals.
(countable, metonymically, uncountable) A religious or spiritual belief system.
Gradually I realized that I needed a faith to rely on. 2020 March 27, “Dafa Taught Me How to Be a Good Person”, in Minghui:
We seek justice for the Indo-European Folk Faith; what's wrong in our literature for that?
The Christian faith.
(countable, uncountable) An obligation of loyalty or fidelity and the observance of such an obligation.
He acted in good faith to restore broken diplomatic ties after defeating the incumbent.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Credibility or truth.
1784-1810, William Mitford, History of Greece
the faith of the foregoing […] narrative
conviction (knowing, without direct observation, based on indirect evidence and experience, that something is true, real, or will happen) · belief (knowing, without direct observation, based on indirect evidence and experience, that something is true, real, or will happen) · system of religious belief · confidence (knowing, without direct observation, based on indirect evidence and experience, that something is true, real, or will happen) · trust (knowing, without direct observation, based on indirect evidence and experience, that something is true, real, or will happen)
Translations (273)
ky убада (feeling that something is true) · ur دِین (religious belief system) · la fides (feeling that something is true) · ba иман (feeling that something is true) · it fede (feeling that something is true) · zu ithemba (feeling that something is true) · prs اِعْتِقَاد (feeling that something is true) · pt fé (obligation of loyalty or fidelity) · mt fidi (feeling that something is true) · mk вера (feeling that something is true) · az inanc (religious belief system) · ast fe (feeling that something is true) · tr vefa (obligation of loyalty or fidelity) · ja 信仰 (religious belief system) · ang ġelēafa (religious belief system) · tt иман (religious belief system) · ky ак ниеттик (feeling that something is true) · id iman (religious belief system) · prs اِیمَان (feeling that something is true) · ja 信仰 (feeling that something is true) · pam kasalpantayanan (religious belief system) · cmn 信念 (feeling that something is true) · fro feid (credibility or truth) · cu вѣра (feeling that something is true) · th ความเชื่อ (feeling that something is true) · pl wiara (feeling that something is true) · tl paniniwala (feeling that something is true) · pdt Gloowe (feeling that something is true) · fi uskollisuus (obligation of loyalty or fidelity) · eo fido (feeling that something is true) · tt иман (feeling that something is true) · bo དད་པ (feeling that something is true) · ru вероиспове́дание (religious belief system) · wa fwè (religious belief system) · rm fai (feeling that something is true) · fi uskottavuus (credibility or truth) · fy leauwe (feeling that something is true) · pdt Gloowe (religious belief system) · hu hit (feeling that something is true) · hi ईमान (feeling that something is true) · fj vakadinata (feeling that something is true) · pt fé (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · uk віросповіда́ння (religious belief system) · uk ві́ра (feeling that something is true) · ps اعتقاد (feeling that something is true) · nv oodlą́ (religious belief system) · fr confiance (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · uk віровизна́ння (religious belief system) · ja 信教 (feeling that something is true) · sh вје̏ра (feeling that something is true) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌿𐌱𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (religious belief system) · sq besë (feeling that something is true) · ar دِين (religious belief system) · da tro (feeling that something is true) · my သဒ္ဓါ (feeling that something is true) · tg эътикод (feeling that something is true) · it fiducia (feeling that something is true) · cmn 信心 (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · fa-ira اِعْتِقاد (feeling that something is true) · cmn 信心 (feeling that something is true) · sh vjȅra (feeling that something is true) · hi श्रद्धा (feeling that something is true) · th ศรัทธา (feeling that something is true) · uz imon (religious belief system) · lo ສັດທາ (religious belief system) · te నమ్మకము (feeling that something is true) · ug ئىمان (feeling that something is true) · ky дин (religious belief system) · he אֱמוּנָה (feeling that something is true) · sq besim (feeling that something is true) · es fe (religious belief system) · ja 信念 (feeling that something is true) · tg дин (religious belief system) · yue 信仰 (religious belief system) · fur fede (feeling that something is true) · uz ishonch (feeling that something is true) · uz imon (feeling that something is true) · haw manaʻoʻiʻo (feeling that something is true) · ja 信義 (feeling that something is true) · nn tillit (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · sl veroizpoved (religious belief system) · fro feid (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · nl geloof (feeling that something is true) · sh vȅra (feeling that something is true) · fi usko (obligation of loyalty or fidelity) · oc fe (feeling that something is true) · id keyakinan (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · fi usko (feeling that something is true) · mi whakapono (feeling that something is true) · fi todenmukaisuus (credibility or truth) · gd creideamh (feeling that something is true) · hi दीन (religious belief system) · lt tikėjimas (feeling that something is true) · kmr îman (feeling that something is true) · oc fe (religious belief system) · ar إِيمَان (feeling that something is true) · km សទ្ធា (feeling that something is true) · is trú (feeling that something is true) · ur اِعْتِقاد (feeling that something is true) · fa-ira ایمان (religious belief system) · ca fe (feeling that something is true) · bg вероизпове́дание (religious belief system) · sv tro (religious belief system) · mn ᠢᠲᠡᠭᠡᠯ (feeling that something is true) · tr iman (feeling that something is true) · az iman (religious belief system) · tr inanç (religious belief system) · hi धारणा (feeling that something is true) · ar إِيمَان (religious belief system) · pt fé (feeling that something is true) · cmn 信賴 /信赖 (feeling that something is true) · rsk вира (feeling that something is true) · ar مُعْتَقَد (feeling that something is true) · kmr bawerî (feeling that something is true) · fa-ira ایمان (feeling that something is true) · ru уве́ренность (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · fi usko (religious belief system) · tt дин (religious belief system) · sc fidi (feeling that something is true) · fr foi (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · chr ᎪᎯᏳᏗ (feeling that something is true) · ru ве́ра (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · be ве́ра (feeling that something is true) · tk din (religious belief system) · bg вя́ра (feeling that something is true) · vi tin tưởng (feeling that something is true) · stq Gloowe (feeling that something is true) · de Vertrauen (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · af geloof (feeling that something is true) · ug ئىشەنچ (feeling that something is true) · zza iman (feeling that something is true) · hi यक़ीन (feeling that something is true) · gl fe (feeling that something is true) · fa-ira دین (religious belief system) · tg имон (feeling that something is true) · pl wyznanie (religious belief system) · ko 믿음 (feeling that something is true) · ro credință (feeling that something is true) · bn এতেকাদ (feeling that something is true) · tr güven (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · yue 信心 (feeling that something is true) · cs víra (feeling that something is true) · fj vakabauta (feeling that something is true) · it fede (religious belief system) · ang ġelēafa (feeling that something is true) · wym głaowa (feeling that something is true) · ur اِیمان (religious belief system) · az inanc (feeling that something is true) · vi tín ngưỡng (feeling that something is true) · zza emel (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · am እምነት (feeling that something is true) · uk конфе́сія (religious belief system) · pt fé (religious belief system) · fro feid (obligation of loyalty or fidelity) · lo ສັດທາ (feeling that something is true) · et usk (feeling that something is true) · ur یَقِین (feeling that something is true) · he דָּת (religious belief system) · az iman (feeling that something is true) · ha imani (feeling that something is true) · uk ві́ра (religious belief system) · ru испове́дание (religious belief system) · ota ایمان (religious belief system) · lo ຄວາມເຊື່ອ (feeling that something is true) · id kepercayaan (religious belief system) · ka მრწამსი (religious belief system) · ky кепилдик (feeling that something is true) · ar اِعْتِقَاد (feeling that something is true) · ky ишенич (feeling that something is true) · fi luottamus (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · ota ایمان (feeling that something is true) · sw imani (feeling that something is true) · es confianza (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · ug ئېتىقاد (feeling that something is true) · tl pananampalataya (feeling that something is true) · be вызна́нне (religious belief system) · eve тэдьэн (feeling that something is true) · ota دین (religious belief system) · be канфе́сія (religious belief system) · tk iman (feeling that something is true) · kk дін (religious belief system) · be веравызна́нне (religious belief system) · kk сенім (feeling that something is true) · be ве́ра (religious belief system) · prs دِین (religious belief system) · ky ишеним (feeling that something is true) · mn итгэл (feeling that something is true) · hi विश्वास (feeling that something is true) · mwl fé (feeling that something is true) · yue 信心 (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · ru ве́ра (obligation of loyalty or fidelity) · ky дин (feeling that something is true) · el πίστη (feeling that something is true) · ky берилгендик (feeling that something is true) · sc fide (feeling that something is true) · sk viera (feeling that something is true) · tr inanç (feeling that something is true) · tr iman (religious belief system) · ps ايمان (feeling that something is true) · mk вера (religious belief system) · vi tin (feeling that something is true) · uk визна́ння (religious belief system) · fr foi (religious belief system) · ka რწმენა (feeling that something is true) · nag biswas (feeling that something is true) · fro feid (religious belief system) · ko 신앙 (religious belief system) · sl vera (feeling that something is true) · hi धर्म (religious belief system) · hsb wěra (feeling that something is true) · he אֵמוּן (feeling that something is true) · sh ве̏ра (feeling that something is true) · fr foi (feeling that something is true) · de Glaube (religious belief system) · fro feid (feeling that something is true) · sv tro (feeling that something is true) · bn বিশ্বাস (feeling that something is true) · scn fidi (feeling that something is true) · lv ticība (feeling that something is true) · it fiducia (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · es fe (feeling that something is true) · lo ສາດສະໜາ (religious belief system) · ms din (religious belief system) · ms iman (religious belief system) · bn ঈমান (feeling that something is true) · tg имон (religious belief system) · tr din (religious belief system) · cmn 信仰 (religious belief system) · zza din (diq) (religious belief system) · prs اِیمَان (religious belief system) · arc ܗܝܡܢܘܬܐ (feeling that something is true) · nrf fei (feeling that something is true) · ko 신앙 (feeling that something is true) · ru ве́ра (feeling that something is true) · ka რჯული (religious belief system) · tr itikat (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · ru конфе́ссия (religious belief system) · hi आस्था (feeling that something is true) · sl vera (obligation of loyalty or fidelity) · eu fede (religious belief system) · ml വിശ്വാസം (feeling that something is true) · lv pārliecība (feeling that something is true) · de Glaube (feeling that something is true) · orv вѣра (feeling that something is true) · uz eʻtiqod (feeling that something is true) · bg вя́ра (religious belief system) · grc πίστις (feeling that something is true) · vec fè (feeling that something is true) · aii ܗܲܝܡܵܢܘܼܬ݂ܵܐ (feeling that something is true) · sl vera (religious belief system) · uz din (religious belief system) · gd creideas (feeling that something is true) · ja 信頼 (feeling that something is true) · fi luottamus (feeling that something is true) · nv oodlą́ (feeling that something is true) · fo trúgv (feeling that something is true) · nb tillit (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · fi usko (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · es fe (confidence in the intentions or abilities) · id keyakinan (religious belief system) · ka აღმსარებლობა (religious belief system) · ur اِیمان (feeling that something is true) · evn тэде (feeling that something is true) · te విశ్వాసము (feeling that something is true) · pi saddhā (feeling that something is true) · ja 信奉 (feeling that something is true) · ru ве́ра (religious belief system) · nl vertrouwen (feeling that something is true) · sa श्रद्धा (feeling that something is true) · nb tro (feeling that something is true) · hy հավատ (feeling that something is true) · az din (religious belief system) · pnb دھرم (religious belief system)