disbelievev.
/dɪsbɪˈliːv/ 1. transitive. Not to believe or credit; to refuse credence to:
a. a statement or (alleged) fact: To reject the truth or reality of. (With simple object or object clause.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > disbelief, incredulity > disbelieve [verb (transitive)]
mislevea1200
mistrowa1375
untrowc1380
disallowc1400
misbelievea1450
unbelieve1547
discredit1548
miscredita1555
deny1629
disbelieve1645
disesteema1676
society > faith > aspects of faith > theism > atheism > [verb (transitive)]
disbelieve1645
discredit1656
1645 [see disbelieving n. and adj. at Derivatives].
1678 R. Cudworth True Intellect. Syst. Universe i. i. 18 There have been doubtless in all Ages such as have disbelieved the Existence of any thing but what was Sensible.
1712 Spectator No. 527. ⁋2 People will be as slow and unwilling in disbelieving scandal, as they are quick and forward in believing it.
1796 R. Southey Joan of Arc i. 77 That misgiving which precedes belief In what was disbelieved and scoff'd at late For folly.
1864 J. H. Newman Apologia 162 Did Henry VIII..disbelieve Purgatory?
1874 W. B. Carpenter Princ. Mental Physiol. (1879) i. ix. §2 395 It does not rest with any man to determine what he shall believe or what he shall disbelieve.
1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 68 He disbelieves In the heart of him that edict which for truth his head receives.
b. a person in making a statement.
ΚΠ
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 273 Plutarch disbelieved Phanias.
1826 Hallam in Edinb. Rev. 44 2 There would be no historical certainty remaining, if it were possible to disbelieve such a contemporary witness as Sir Thomas More.
2. absol. or intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > disbelief, incredulity > disbelieve [verb (intransitive)]
mistrowa1375
unbelieve1687
disbelieve1755
disbelieve1834
1755 E. Young Centaur i, in Wks. (1757) IV. 106 Eve doubted, and then eat..most of Eve's daughters first taste, and then disbelieve.
1796 R. Southey Joan of Arc iii. 188 I feel it is not possible to hear and disbelieve.
1818–60 R. Whately Misc. Remains (1864) 48 It is very evident that the opposite to credulity is scepticism, and that to disbelieve is to believe.
3. intransitive with in: Not to believe in; to have no faith in: cf. believe v. 1, 7.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > disbelief, incredulity > disbelieve [verb (intransitive)]
mistrowa1375
unbelieve1687
disbelieve1755
disbelieve1834
society > faith > aspects of faith > theism > atheism > [verb (intransitive)]
untrowc1200
atheize1678
disbelieve1834
1834 T. Wentworth West India Sketch Bk. I. 172 He disbelieves in the glowing changes of colour in the dying dolphin.
1856 E. B. Browning Aurora Leigh v. 207 I disbelieve in Christian-pagans, much As you in women-fishes.
1869 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) III. xii. 222 I do not altogether disbelieve in the story.
Derivatives
disbeˈlieving n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > disbelief, incredulity > [noun]
untrust?c1225
misbelief1340
misfaitha1382
misbeliefnessc1390
discredence?a1475
miscredit1565
discredit1567
infidelity1578
unconvincedness1642
disbelieving1645
scepticism1646
unbelief1649
diffidelity1659
disbelief1672
misbelieving1737
disfaith1870
society > faith > aspects of faith > theism > atheism > [noun]
unbeliefc1160
wantruthc1175
mislevea1200
doubta1225
untrothc1380
untruthc1380
unreligiositya1382
irreligiosity1382
unbelieffulnessc1384
unfaithfulness1388
unbelievinga1400
unfaith1415
wanbelevenessc1440
wanbelievingc1440
wantrowinga1450
wanbelevea1470
mistruthc1480
infidelity1509
incredulity1532
atheonismc1534
unbelievingness1561
irreligiousness?1577
faithlessness1579
unreligiousness1579
atheism1587
scruple1600
discredence1627
doubtinga1628
disbelieving1645
atheisticalness1654
diffidelity1659
disbelief1672
atheisticness1691
nothingism1755
scepticism1800
nihilisma1817
infidelisma1834
nothingarianism1842
agnosticism1870
disfaith1870
no-Goddism1931
1645 H. Hammond Pract. Catech. i. iii. 71 The dis-beleeving an eternall truth of Gods.
disbeˈlievingly adv. in a disbelieving manner; with disbelief.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > disbelief, incredulity > [adverb]
inconvincedly1642
inconvincibly1646
incredulously1800
unconvincedly1850
misbelievingly1882
disbelievingly1893
1893 Chicago Advance 22 June Hester shook her head disbelievingly, but Daisy rattled on.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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