believe Copy link Outline I. To regard as proved1. crēdo, dĭdi, dĭtum, 3 (with acc. or acc. and inf.)2. persuādeo, suāsi, suāsum, 2 (with dat. of pron. reflect.II. To have faith or confidence inIII. To be of opinion, to think, suppose; q. v. arbitror, pŭto. • believe: I. To regard as proved: 1. crēdo, dĭdi, dĭtum, 3 (with acc. or acc. and inf.): that was b.d because it seemed probable, id credebatur quia simile vero videbatur, Cic.: I have heard indeed what you say from my elders, but have never been induced to b. it, audivi equidem ista de majoribus natu, sed nunquam sum adductus ut crederem, Cic.: men generally readily b. what they wish, fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt, Caes.: you are right not to b. about the number of the soldiers, recte non credis de numero militum, Cic.: we b. that they foresee the future, eos futura prospicere credimus, Cic. In the pass. voice the personal is preferred to the impersonal form: as, it is b.d that Athos was once traversed by sails, creditur olim velificatus Athos, Juv.: Ov. 2. persuādeo, suāsi, suāsum, 2 (with dat. of pron. reflect.: this differs from credo as implying that the will has been employed in producing the belief; the literal meaning being "to persuade oneself"): I would wish you to b. that I will on no occasion fail to second your plans, velim tibi ita persuadeas me tuis consiliis nullo loco defuturum, Cic.: who would b. this? quis hoc sibi persuaderet? Caes.: we ought all to b. that nothing should be done unjustly, nobis persuasum esse debet, nihil injuste esse faciendum, Cic.: I never could b. that souls die, mihi nunquam persuaderi potuit animos emori, Cic. Phr.: the thing was b.d, res fidem habuit, Ov.: this is more than can be b.d, hoc est extra fidem, Sen.; supra f., Plin.: v. belief: I b. in or on (as theol. t.), credo in Deum, etc., Symbol.: to cause to b., v. to convince, persuade: to make b., v. to pretend, feign. II. To have faith or confidence in: crēdo, 3 (with dat.): I know that he will b. me without an oath, injurato scio credet mihi, Pl.: believe me (i. e. take my word), mihi crede or (less freq.) crede mihi, Cic.: will he say that he whom he has himself b.d ought not to be b.d? ei negabit credi oportere cui ipse crediderit? Cic.: I don't understand why the visions of dreamers should be b.d, cur credatur somniantium visis non intelligo, Cic.: b. me, I would follow thee, crede mihi, te sequerer, Ov.: they are b.d, illis creditur, Juv. Phr.: men b. in just and trusty persons, justis et fidis hominibus fides habetur, Cic.: the visions of the mad are not to be b.d, insanorum visis fides non est habenda, Cic.: to b. evidence, testimonio fidem tribuere, Cic.: to b. in imaginary things, fidem commenticiis rebus adjungere, Cic.: v. confidence, to trust. III. To be of opinion, to think, suppose; q. v. arbitror, pŭto.