† well-believingadj.

1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters ii. vi. f. liiii^v/1 Yt may well peraduenture happen, that the good men well beleuyng & vndeceyued, be those that beleue the worshyp of ymages & prayng to sayntes to be ydolatry.

1557 R. Edgeworth Serm. very Fruitfull xiii. f. ccxxvi Al these circumstances S. Peter speaketh in few wordes, Conscientie bone interrogatio in deum, the examination or discussion of a good & welbeleuing conscience toward God.

a1620 M. Fotherby Atheomastix (1622) ii. vii. 270 It seemeth vtterly absurd, not onely to the religion of well beleeuing Christians, but also to the reason of vnderstanding Heathens.

1716 J. Perry State of Russia 171 There have been several Instances of Religious, and well-believing Persons..who..have their Bodies carried from Mosco to Kiow to be buried there.

1868 Putnam's Mag. Jan. 74/1 Nor in death, nor in life, shall there be any loss, nor doubt, nor change, to the well-believing and deep-beloving heart.

1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron II. vii. ii. f. 26^v Lazaro, who stoode all this while like a well-beleeuing Logger-head.

1679 J. Dryden Troilus & Cressida v. ii. 67 You good, kind-natur'd, well-believing fools.

1709 W. Congreve tr. Ovid Art of Love iii. 210 But let not powder'd Heads nor essenc'd Hair, Your well-believing, easie Hearts ensnare.

1824 T. Campbell Theoderic 9 Such hyperboles of youthful style As made his parents dry their tears and smile. But differently far his words impress'd A wond'ring sister's well-believing breast.