\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.

\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.

\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.