doubt

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
doubt/daʊt/

▶noun a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction. ▶verb

• 1 feel uncertain about.

  ■ question the truth or fact of.

  ■ disbelieve (someone).

• 2 archaic be afraid.

– phrases
beyond doubt allowing no uncertainty.
in doubt

• 1 open to question.

• 2 feeling uncertain.

no doubt

• 1 certainly.

• 2 probably.

– derivatives
doubtable adjective,
doubter noun,
doubting adjective,
doubtingly adverb.

– origin ME: from OFr. doute (n.), douter (v.), from L. dubitare ‘hesitate’, from dubius (see dubious).