n. [ OE. feith, fayth, fay, OF. feid, feit, fei, F. foi, fr. L. fides; akin to fidere to trust, Gr. pei`qein to persuade. The ending th is perhaps due to the influence of such words as truth, health, wealth. See Bid, Bide, and cf. Confide, Defy, Fealty. ] 1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting solely and implicitly on his authority and veracity; reliance on testimony. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he utters; firm and earnest belief, on probable evidence of any kind, especially in regard to important moral truth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Faith, that is, fidelity, -- the fealty of the finite will and understanding to the reason. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Judeo-Christian Theol.) (a) The belief in the historic truthfulness of the Scripture narrative, and the supernatural origin of its teachings, sometimes called historical and speculative faith. (b) (Christian Theol.) The belief in the facts and truth of the Scriptures, with a practical love of them; especially, that confiding and affectionate belief in the person and work of Christ, which affects the character and life, and makes a man a true Christian, -- called a practical, evangelical, or saving faith. [ 1913 Webster ]

Without faith it is impossible to please him [ God ]. Heb. xi. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind which is called “trust” or “confidence” exercised toward the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior. Dr. T. Dwight. [ 1913 Webster ]

Faith is an affectionate, practical confidence in the testimony of God. J. Hawes. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which is believed on any subject, whether in science, politics, or religion; especially (Theol.), a system of religious belief of any kind; as, the Jewish or Muslim faith; the Christian faith; also, the creed or belief of a Christian society or church. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Which to believe of her,
Must be a faith that reason without miracle
Could never plant in me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. Gal. i. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Fidelity to one's promises, or allegiance to duty, or to a person honored and beloved; loyalty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Children in whom is no faith. Deut. xxvii. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose failing, while her faith to me remains,
I should conceal. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Word or honor pledged; promise given; fidelity; as, he violated his faith. [ 1913 Webster ]

For you alone
I broke me faith with injured Palamon. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Credibility or truth. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The faith of the foregoing narrative. Mitford. [ 1913 Webster ]

Act of faith. See Auto-da-fé. --
Breach of faith,
Confession of faith, etc. See under Breach, Confession, etc. --
Faith cure, a method or practice of treating diseases by prayer and the exercise of faith in God. --
In good faith, with perfect sincerity. [ 1913 Webster ]

interj. By my faith; in truth; verily. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having faith or a faith; honest; sincere. [ Obs. ] “Make thy words faithed.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Full of faith, or having faith; disposed to believe, especially in the declarations and promises of God. [ 1913 Webster ]

You are not faithful, sir. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Firm in adherence to promises, oaths, contracts, treaties, or other engagements. [ 1913 Webster ]

The faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him. Deut. vii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. True and constant in affection or allegiance to a person to whom one is bound by a vow, by ties of love, gratitude, or honor, as to a husband, a prince, a friend; firm in the observance of duty; loyal; of true fidelity; as, a faithful husband or servant. [ 1913 Webster ]

So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found,
Among the faithless, faithful only he. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Worthy of confidence and belief; conformable to truth ot fact; exact; accurate; as, a faithful narrative or representation. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is a faithful saying. 2 Tim. ii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Faithful, the adherents of any system of religious belief; esp. used as an epithet of the followers of Mohammed.

Syn. -- Trusty; honest; upright; sincere; veracious; trustworthy.

-- Faith"ful*ly, adv. -Faith"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the trait of being faithful.
Syn. -- fidelity. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. 1. Not believing; not giving credit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be not faithless, but believing. John xx. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not believing on God or religion; specifically, not believing in the Christian religion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not observant of promises or covenants. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not true to allegiance, duty, or vows; perfidious; trecherous; disloyal; not of true fidelity; inconstant, as a husband or a wife. [ 1913 Webster ]

A most unnatural and faithless service. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Serving to disappoint or deceive; delusive; unsatisfying. “Yonder faithless phantom.” Goldsmith.

-- Faith"less*ly, adv.Faith"less*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]