doubt

Alternative forms

• dout (obsolete)

Etymology

The noun is from Middle English doute, from Anglo-Norman and Old French doute, from the verb douter, whose etymology is in the next paragraph. The modern spelling is probably under the influence of Middle French doubte.

The verb is from Middle English douten, from Anglo-Norman douter, from Old French douter, from Latin dubitō, from the noun. Replaced Middle English tweonien (“to doubt”) (from Old English twēonian, compare Old English twēo (“doubt, duplicity”)). The modern spelling is probably under the influence of Middle French doubter.

Pronunciation

• enPR: dout, IPA^(key): /daʊt/

• Audio (US)

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• (Canada) IPA^(key): /dʌʊt/
• Rhymes: -aʊt

Noun

doubt (countable and uncountable, plural doubts)

1. Uncertainty, disbelief.

   There was some doubt as to who the child's real father was.

   • 1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., OCLC 580270828:

     It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. […]. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.

Verb

doubt (third-person singular simple present doubts, present participle doubting, simple past and past participle doubted)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To lack confidence in; to disbelieve, question, or suspect.

   He doubted that was really what you meant.

   • Hooker

     Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt […]

   • Dryden

     To try your love and make you doubt of mine.

2. (archaic) To fear; to suspect.
   • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I.186:

     He fled, like Joseph, leaving it; but there, / I doubt, all likeness ends between the pair.

3. (obsolete) To fear; to be apprehensive of.
   • R. of Gloucester

     Edmond [was a] good man and doubted God.

   • Shakespeare

     I doubt some foul play.

   • Spenser

     I of doubted danger had no fear.

4. (obsolete) To fill with fear; to affright.
   • 1861, George Eliot, “Chapter 21”, in Silas Marner:

     It's dark to me, Mrs Winthrop, that is; I doubt it'll be dark to the last.

   • Beaumont and Fletcher

     The virtues of the valiant Caratach / More doubt me than all Britain.