An Attempt To Date
Faith
G.D.O'Bradovich III
July 28, 2015
From our "An Attempt To Date Belief", we learned that English is the only Germanic language that possesses separate words for "belief" and "faith". The following is courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary with secondary sources in red and citations after the year 1800 are omitted.
Forms:
α. eME feið, ME faiþ, ME faiþe, ME fayþ, ME feiȝþ, ME feiȝth, ME feiȝthe, ME feiþ, ME feiþe, ME feþ, ME feyþ, ME ffayth, ME ffeyþ, ME ffeyth, ME–16 faithe, ME–16 fayth, ME–16 faythe, ME–16 feith, ME–16 feithe, ME–16 feyth, ME–16 feythe, ME– faith, lME fath, 15 faieth, 15fayeth, 15 feathe, 15 fethe, 15 (18 Irish English (Wexford)) fythe, 16 ffaith, 16 (18 in Phrases 1a(b)) feth, 18 faaighe (Irish English (Wexford)), 18 faighe (Irish English (Wexford)); also Sc. pre-17 fath, pre-17 fathe, pre-17 18– feth (now also Irish English (north.)).
β. ME fait, ME fayt, ME feiȝt, ME feyght, ME feyghte, ME feyt, 15 faight; also Sc. pre-17 facht, pre-17 faicht, pre-17 faitht, pre-17 fatht, pre-17 faycht, pre-17 faytht, 18 fait.
See also fay n.1
Etymology:
< Anglo-Norman and Old French feid, feit, fait (also Anglo-Norman and Middle French foit , Anglo-Norman and Old French fei , Anglo-Norman and Middle French, French foi : see fay n.1) religious faith (late 11th cent.), word of honour (c1100), fidelity, loyalty, allegiance (all late 12th cent.), (of an argument) credibility (mid 13th cent.), trust (second half of the 13th cent.), reliability (late 13th cent. or earlier), (with definite article) the Christian religion (a1417) < classical Latin fidēs trust, guarantee, promise, assurance, fulfilment of a promise, proof, confirmation, authoritativeness, credit, good name, financial credit, honesty, honour, loyalty, allegiance, credibility, trustworthiness, reliability, belief, conviction, confidence, range or possibility of belief, in post-classical Latin also belief in the Christian religion, Christian doctrine (Vulgate), the Christian religion (late 2nd or early 3rd cent. in Tertullian), profession of the Christian religion (4th cent.) < the base of fīdere to trust < the same Indo-European base as ancient Greek πείθεσθαι to be persuaded, to obey, and probably bide v., and also (with different ablaut grade) Gothic baidjan to compel, exercise a moral constraint (see bad adj., n.2, and adv.), Old Church Slavonic bědanecessity, distress, Lithuanian bėda misfortune, trouble, Albanian be oath.
Compare Old Occitan fe (c1100), Catalan fe (c1200), Spanish fe (12th cent., also †he (14th cent.)), Portuguese fé (12th cent.), Italian fede (mid 13th cent.). Compare also Welsh ffydd (13th cent as fit ; < Latin).
Phonology.
The dental fricative in English apparently reflects the pronunciation of the final consonant in the earliest stages of Anglo-Norman and Old French (before its deletion, probably in the 11th cent.), this would make faith the only borrowing from Anglo-Norman to preserve this feature in a monosyllabic word (compare the parallel borrowing fayn.1, without it); it may have been preserved under the influence of the semantically related truth n. and troth n. (For preservation of the early French final dental in suffixes, compare e.g. dainteth n. and the β. forms at plenty n., adj., and adv.)
It has also been suggested that the final dental in English faith is -th suffix1 (i.e. showing suffixation of fei fay n.1within English), but this rarely combines with nouns and not normally with first elements of non-Germanic origin.
Models for religious senses.
Ancient Greek πίστις , which is ultimately related to classical Latin fidēs and is generally translated by the Latin word in the New Testament, has a similar range of senses: trust, confidence, assurance, trustworthiness, honesty, credit, religious belief (in Hellenistic Greek also specifically denoting the Christian religion), pledge, guarantee, argument, proof.
With sense A. 6 compare Anglo-Norman la commune fei the Catholic faith, lit. ‘the common faith’ (first half of the 12th cent); post-classical Latin fides catholica (4th cent.).
Models for other specific uses.
With to give (one's) faith at sense A. 2 compare classical Latin fidem dare .
With to give faith at sense A. 4 compare classical Latin fidem dare (2nd cent. a.d. in Apuleius; rare), Anglo-Normandoner fei (a) to put faith (in), to trust (early 14th cent.).
With to make (also do) faith at sense A. 3 compare classical Latin fidem facere to give surety, and also Anglo-Norman faire fei to swear loyalty (a1325 or earlier).
Earlier synonyms.
In Old English, various aspects of ‘faith’ were expressed with trēowþ (see truth n. and compare troth n.); in religious contexts, gelēafa was used instead (see yleve n. and compare belief n.).
A. n.
I. The fulfilment of a trust or promise, and related senses.
1a. The quality of fulfilling one's trust or promise; faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty; trustworthiness. Also in to bear faith : to be loyal (to someone). Now rare.Recorded earliest in good faith n. Cf. bad faith n., breach of faith at breach n.Additions.
▸c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2853 (MED),
Hauelok..dide hem grete oþes swere, þat he sholden him god feyth bere.
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2678
Ðat him sal feið wurðful ben boren.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 2049
Thus he..feigneth under guile feith.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6980
Þair faith lasted littel space,..þai..lefte þe lagh of hei drightin.
c1405 (▸c1390) Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) l. 929
Man sholde bere hym to his wyf In feith, in trouthe, and in loue.
a1450 (▸1369) Chaucer Bk. Duchess (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 632
Wiþ-oute feiþ lawe or mesure She is fals.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxiv. f. xiiiiv,
To hym we owe to bere faith and trouth, as duke of Acquitayne and pere of Fraunce.
1600 Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 127
Bearing the badge of faith to prooue them true.
1649 J. Evelyn Let. 26 Mar. in Diary & Corr. (1859) III. 40
Persons of great faith to his Majesty's cause.
1702 C. Brent Ess. Nature Guilt & Lying ii. 120
He does not forget to make them reflect remorsefully on upon their violations of Military Faith and Honour.
1741 C. Middleton tr. Cicero in Hist. Life Cicero I. vi. 492,
I deliver the whole man to you, from my hand, as we say, into your's, illustrious for victory and faith.
b. The duty of fulfilling one's trust; allegiance owed to a superior, fealty; the obligation of a promise or engagement. Also in to make faith : to swear fealty. See also Phrases 2a.in (also at) (a person's) faith : under obligation of fealty (to a person).
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2187
Bi ðe feið ic og to king pharaon.
1389 in T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 39
Þe feyth þat þei owen to god.
?a1400 (▸a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt 511) ii. 333
Sire Eymere of Valence lay at Saynt Jon toun, In his alience with many erle & baroun; Of Scotlond þe best were þan in his feith.
c1425 Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 7541 (MED),
And hiȝe and low..Hadde openly in a parlement Made feith to hym and y-don homage.
a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 9969
He toke feith of free and bond.
1490 Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxv. 538
Vpon the feyth that ye owe to me.
a1500 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 63
The Lorde of þe fee..schall never clame no thyng..bott alonly hys faythe for hys tenementes.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 78
Vntill he were returned unto his fayth.
1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. i. 2/1
The Lordes..tooke their oathes of faith and allegiance vnto Don Phillip.
1671 Milton Samson Agonistes 986
Who to save Her countrey from a fierce destroyer, chose Above the faith of wedlock-bands.
1736 A. Hill Zara i. i. 5
That Cross, which, from your Infant Years Has been preserv'd, was found upon your Bosom, As if design'd, by Heaven, a Pledge of Faith.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall II. 129
The two princes mutually engaged their faith never to undertake any thing to the prejudice of each other.
2. A pledge, a formal declaration, a solemn promise; esp. into give (one's) faith . See also Phrases 2a. Now rare and arch.
c1405 (▸c1395) Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 431
Lo here my feith in me shal be no lak.
c1425 Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 2176
As sittyng is to femynyte Of nature nat be vengable, For feith nor oþe, but raþer mercyable.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clxxxiijv,
Emongest men of warre, faith or othe, syldome is perfourmed.
1558 Bp. T. Watson Holsome Doctr. Seuen Sacramentes xxviii. f. clxxiiii,
Jane, here I geue to thee my faythe and truthe..I wyll marrye thee.
1634 J. Ford Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck ii. iii. sig. E,
Cease perswasions, I violate no pawnes of faythes, intrude not On private loues.
1663 tr. G. Biondi Penitent Bandito sig. D6v,
Father, I give you my faith, that I do not, at all, bewail my death.
1721 E. Young Revenge iii. i. 32
O sacred Faith! How dearly I abide thy Violation!
1787 J. Reeves Hist. Eng. Law (ed. 2) I. vii. 406
In common cases..the essoniator gave his faith, that he would produce his principal at another day.
†II. Inducement to belief or trust.
3. Attestation, confirmation, assurance; esp. in to make (alsodo) faith : to attest; to affirm, confirm; to give surety. Obs.
▸a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. xi. 15
He shal be tormentid with euel, that doth feith [L. fidem facit] for a stranger.
1483 Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ccxxiij/1,
Alle made fayth to other that [etc.].
1556 tr. J. de Flores Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. G3,
The manney folde paines..makethe cleare feithe inoughe, that the greter follie is yowres.
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 807
Faith was made to them, that..they should come safe.
1654 Bp. J. Taylor Real Presence xii. 27
An excellent MS. that makes faith in this particular.
1668 M. Casaubon Of Credulity & Incred. (1670) 111
Christ his miracles without further consideration..to make faith or evidence of his Deity.
1722 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. II. i. 13
Doctor Oats had made Faith that several of that Cattle were sent down from England to Scotland.
1786 R. Burns Let. 9 July in Wks. (1834) VII. 2
One of the servant girls made faith that she upon a time rashly entered the house.
4. Power to convince; credibility, credit, convincing authority. Obs.to give faith : to create credibility.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 852
Anon mi faste I breke On suche wordes as sche seith, That full of trouthe and full of feith Thei ben.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 1520
Forto yive a more feith..In blake clothes thei hem clothe.
?c1400 (▸c1380) Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iii.pr. xii. l. 3002
Þe whiche proeues drawen to hemself hir feiþ and hir accorde eueriche [of] hem of oþer.
1596 L. Keymis Relation 2nd Voy. Guiana sig. G2v,
He reposed himselfe more on the faith of his guides the[n] on his small number of men.
1605 B. Jonson Sejanus iii. sig. G,
Great Titus Livius, great for eloquence, And fayth [1616 faith], amongst vs, in his Historie.
a1638 J. Mede Epist. to Estwick in Wks. (1672) iv. 836
S. Jerom is a man of no faith with me.
1708 W. Crouch Sin of Covetousness ix. 81
The best of Records extant in the whole World (and which thro' many Ages and Generations, have gained Faith and Credit) have recogniz'd him to be a very Meek Man.
1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 375
Relying on the Faith of Books.
1808 W. Mitford Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxxi. 124
It may not be unnecessary..towards establishing the faith of the foregoing..narrative.
III. Belief, trust, confidence.
5. Belief in and acceptance of the doctrines of a religion, typically involving belief in a god or gods and in the authenticity of divine revelation. Also (Theol.): the capacity to spiritually apprehend divine truths, or realities beyond the limits of perception or of logical proof, viewed either as a faculty of the human soul, or as the result of divine illumination.Earlier evidence refers almost exclusively to the Christian religion, divine revelation being viewed as contained either in Holy Scripture or in the teaching of the Church. In this context faith is often considered in relation to justification before God, and contrasted with works. Cf. justifying faith at justifying adj. Special uses.
▸c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) James ii. 17
Feith [L. fides], if it haue not werkes, is deed in it silf.
c1405 (▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 64
Feith is deed with outen werkis.
▸c1443 R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1987) 425
Feith is a knowingal vertu—þat is to seie such where wiþ we knowen sum treuþe and is þe knowing of þe same trouþ.
▸c1456 R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 123
That feith..is thilke kinde or spice of knowyng, which a man gendrith and getith into his undirstonding.
1526 Tyndale Prol. Moses in Wks. 7
Fayth, is the beleuyng of Gods promises, and a sure trust in the goodnes and truth of God, which fayth iustified Abrah.
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 375
Faith..maketh God & man friends.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iii. xlii. 271
Faith is a gift of God, which Man can neither give, nor take away.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. xviii. 348
Faith..is the Assent to any Proposition..upon the Credit of the Proposer, as coming immediately from God, which we call Revelation.
1744 Swift Serm. Trinity 52
Faith is an entire Dependence upon the Truth, the Power, the Justice, and the mercy of God.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 111
Faith, the root whence only can arise The graces of a life that wins the skies.
6 a. A system of religious belief. Freq. with modifying word, asChristian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.
▸c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Rom. iii. 26
That he be iust, and iustifyinge him that is of the feith of Jhesu Crist.
▸c1391 Gower Confessio Amantis (Huntington) vii. l. 3221* (MED),
‘Which is thi creance and thi feith?’ ‘I am paien,’ that other seith.
c1405 (▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 378
They gonnen fro the tormentours to reue..The false feith to trowe in god allone.
?a1425 (▸c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 11
Men of Grece ben cristene, ȝit þei varien from oure feith.
a1450 (▸?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) (1810) 4062
He is at the Sarezynes faith.
1485 Caxton in tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete Prol. sig. aij/1,
The cristen feyth is..corrobered by the doctours of holy chyrche.
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes ii, in Wks. 179/1
The churche..muste..haue all one fayth.
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Fiij,
They haue no law written, and are of no faith.
1600 Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 71
He weares his faith but as the fashion of his hat.
1680 C. Blount Great is Diana 29
This was the Heathen Faith; for although they did not own themselves to be made after the Image of God, yet did they in their fond Imaginations make their Gods after the Image of men.
1748 J. P. Stehelin tr. J. Buxtorf in J. A. Eisenmenger Rabinical Lit. (new ed.) II. App. 227
Upon these Articles.., the Religion of Moses and the Faith of the Jews have always stood.
1764 H. Walpole Let. 11 Jan. in Corr. with G. Montagu (1941) II. 117
We Oberon the grand,..Defender of the sylphic faith.
1777 J. Richardson Dict. Persian, Arabic & Eng. I. Dissert. 24/2
An open scoffer at the Moslem faith.
6 b. the faith (also the Faith): that system of religious belief which is regarded as true and correct; the true religion; spec.(esp. in earlier use) Christianity, or a particular branch of it. Also in extended use denoting non-religious beliefs (cf. senseA. 6d). Cf. defender of the faith at defender n. 2b.Sometimes without the in early use and in certain fixed phrases, as of faith: part and parcel of the faith. See also contrary to faith at Phrases 4a, Confession of Faith atconfession n. 7a.
▸c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Tim. vi. 10
Sum men..erreden fro the feith, and bisettiden hem with many sorwis.
c1390 (▸?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 11 (MED),
Ioseph..hedde I-turned to þe feyþ fifti with him-seluen.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21013
Iacob þe mar..þe land o spaigne in fait he fest.
c1405 (▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 538
Thre dayes lyued she..And neuere cessed hem the feith to teche.
▸a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe i. 122
Þe clerkys examynde hir in þe Articles of þe Feyth.
?c1500 Conversion of St. Paul (Digby) l. 240
A very pynacle of the fayth.
1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. aijv,
The Indians subdued to the fayth.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 3
A manifest falling away from the Faith.
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie (1636) i. iii. 108
The Gospel conteineth intirely the faith.
1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi i. v. 21
For the poor Non-Conformists, by their hot pressing of those Indifferencies..utterly subverting the Faith in the important Points.
a1770 J. Jortin Serm. (1774) I. ii. 30
When..the inward light waxes dim, the faith is gone.
6 c. That which is believed, or required to be believed, on a particular subject; a belief. Also in pl.: points of faith, tenets. Cf. article of faith at article n. Phrases 1a. Now somewhat rare.
c1400 (▸?c1384) Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 378
Freris perverten þo right feithe of þo sacrament of þo auter.
▸c1456 R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 123
Othere feithis..mowe be geten bi telling or denouncing of an othere persoone, which may not lie.
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xvi. sig. e.viii,
Prechynge..The faythes of holy chyrche.
1565 tr. Origen Homilie of Marye Magdalene sig. D.viiv,
I do beleue and this is my faith, that God is hable to raise hym vp, yea though he be dead.
1680 W. Rogers 1st Pt. Christian-Quaker iv. 24
Others held forth the Visible Orders, and Written Faiths of a Visible Church to be as a Lanthorn to their Paths.
1694 tr. Lett. Turkish Spy VIII. iv. iv. 253
This is my Faith. That there are Paradises of all Sorts and Degrees prepar'd with exquisite Proportion for the various Kinds of Men.
1756 T. Amory Life John Buncle I. xxvi. 128
To enable them to do all things appertaining to life and godliness, and to have a faith in God's power and all-sufficiency.
1794 J. Clowes tr. E. Swedenborg Delights of Wisdom conc. Conjugial Love 36
Many more like objections, which, the instant they were made, they would take away all faith respecting marriages in another life.
6 d. A system of (non-religious) belief; a set of firmly held principles, ideals, or beliefs; a creed. Usu. with modifying word.
1659 A. Burgess Script. Directory 128
This is a meer political faith. Many men have no other apprehension about Religion, than the Laws of the Land, in which they live.
1711 Swift in Examiner 26 Apr.
I look upon the Whigs and Dissenters to be exactly of the same Political Faith.
1793 S. T. Coleridge Lett. (1895) 50
Have you read Mr. Fox's letter to the Westminster electors? It is quite the political go at Cambridge, and has converted many souls to the Foxite faith.
7 a. Chiefly with in (formerly also †of). Firm trust or belief in or reliance upon something (e.g. the truth of a statement or doctrine; the ability, goodness, etc., of a person, the efficacy or worth of a thing); confidence; credence.Originally chiefly in religious contexts.
See also to give faith to at Phrases 2b.
blind faith: see blind adj. Special uses. to pin one's faith on: see pin v.1 4b.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 707 (MED),
Thanne is he swiftest to beguile The womman, which..Set upon him feith or credence.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3405 (MED),
In drightin was his fayth ai fest.
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §4. l. 36
Theise ben obseruauncez of..paiens, in which my spirit ne hath no feith.
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xv. lxxxvii. sig. Hiijv/1,
Ye Germans tornyd them [sc. the Liuones]..to the worshyp & fayth [a1398 BL Add. fey] of one god.
1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Aivv,
Se that thy fayth be pitched On thy Lord God.
1680 T. Otway Orphan ii. 21
Attempt no farther to delude my Faith.
1697 M. Tindal Ess. Concerning Power of Magistrate ii. iii. 91
A Man may be cured by a Medicine he has no Faith in.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. ii. 226
Such a one has great faith in Ward's pills.
1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 124, I never, a' my days, Had meikle faith in spaemen, or their says.
7 b. Belief based on evidence, testimony, or authority.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Piij,
An historicall faith. As I do beleue that William Conqueror was kyng of Englande.
a1628 J. Preston Breast-plate of Faith (1630) 15
Faith is..assenting to Truthes for the Authority of the Speaker.
1696 J. Sergeant Method to Sci. iii. viii. 328
Faith or Belief (speaking of Human Faith to which our Circumstances determine our Discourse) is built on Human Testimony or Witnessing Authority.
1725 I. Watts Logick ii. ii. §9
When we derive the Evidence of any Proposition from the Testimony of others, it is called the Evidence of Faith.
†IV. As a collective term.
8. A company of merchants. Obs.One of many alleged group names found in late Middle English glossarial sources, but not otherwise substantiated.
a1450 Terms Assoc. in PMLA (1936) 51 604 (MED),
A feyth of Marchantes.
B. int.
Emphasize the truth of a statement: really, truly. Also in weakened use as a filler, with little or no semantic force. Cf.in faith at Phrases 1a(b). In later use chiefly Irish English.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. ii. sig. Biv,
Faith sir, and I nere had more nede of a newe cote.
1592 A. Day Eng. Secretorie ii. sig. H2v,
Faith Sir..tis but as the wiser sort doe hold opinion.
1608 Shakespeare King Lear xxi. 68
Be your teares wet, yes faith, I pray weep not.
1638 A. Cowley Loves Riddle i. i. sig. A6v,
'Faith, I am very chary of my health.
1659 W. Goodsonn Let. 6 Mar. in T. Birch Coll. State Papers J. Thurloe (1742) VII. 628
And faith, he received them at Gottenburgh the 23d of February.
1709 Tatler No. 110. ⁋4
Faith Isaac..thou art a very unaccountable old Fellow.
?1780 Comical Sayings Pady from Cork 7
Faith, he was not such a big fool as die yet.
1791 R. Sadler Wanley Penson II. vii. 315
Well, I'm glad thee beest not hanged, faith!
Phrases
P1. With a preceding preposition.
a.
(a) (i)
by one's faith : on one's word of honour, truly; assuredly. Chiefly used parenthetically as an oath or to emphasize the truth of a statement, esp. in by my faith (also without by, as my faith). Now arch. [Compare classical Latin meā fide on my guarantee, tuā fide on your guarantee; Anglo-Norman par ma fei and Middle French par ma foi (see par ma fay int.), Middle French sur ma foi (a1440), and ma foi (see ma foi int., mafey int.). Compare earlier par ma fay int.]
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 275 (MED),
Now telle me, felawe, be þi feiȝþ..sei þou euer þemperour?
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1911) i. 178 (MED),
He confirmyd thys conuencion to be holde ferme & sure by hys feythe & trowþe.
1477 Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 48
By your faith seme ye good that I ought to goo after him.
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epist. 3
By my faith, by my faith..this geare goeth hard with vs.
a1616 Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. i. 79
Now by my faith and honour.
1688 T. Brown Reasons Mr. Bays 17
This is a cutter, by my faith Mr. Bays, it lashes somewhere with a vengeance.
1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere vii, in Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 45
Strange, by my faith! the Hermit said.
(a)(ii) Elaborated as by the faith of one's body (also love) . Nowrare and arch. [Compare Middle French par la foi de mon corps by the faith of my body (a1370).]
1421 in J. B. Paul Registrum Magni Sigilli Scotorum (1882) II. 30/1
The..lord and his..squyar ar oblist ilkane til other be the faythis of thair boiddis.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xcviijv,
Promisyng and behightyng, by the faith of his body.
a1616 Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. ii. 412
By the faith of my loue, I will.
a1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) iii. ii. 38,
I swear by the faith of my Body now It is a pretty thing.
(b) in faith, i'faith y'faith: in truth, really, truly. Freq. used parenthetically as an oath or to emphasize the truth of a statement. Cf. sense B., in good faith at good faith n., int., andadj. Phrases. Now arch. [Compare Old French en foi (late 12th cent.), Middle French en ma foi (a1400), both rare.]
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 858
Fayn sche wold þan in feiþ haue fold him in hire armes.
c1475 (▸a1400) Sir Amadace (Taylor) in J. Robson Three Early Eng. Metrical Romances (1842) 31 Nedelonges most I sitte him by, Hi-fath, ther wille him non mon butte I.
a1547 J. Redford Moral Play Wit & Sci. (1848) 11
Do ye fle, ifayth?
1598 M. Drayton Englands Heroicall Epist. (new ed.) f. 52,
Ifaith her Queenship little rest should take.
1607 T. Middleton Revengers Trag. v. sig. I4v,
Yfaith, we're well.
(c) on (also upon) one's faith : on one's word of honour. Freq. used parenthetically as an oath or to emphasize the truth of a statement: truly, assuredly. Now arch. [In quot. 1523 after Middle French sur sa foi (14th cent. in the passage translated; French sur sa foi).]
c1405 (▸c1390) Chaucer Monk's Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 47
Vp on my feith, thow art som Officer.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xxiii. 75
On my feyth ye be well the man.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxi. 254
The kyng of England..trusted them on theyr faithes [Fr. sur leurs fois].
1602 T. Lodge tr. Josephus Wks. xx. ii. 516
Assuring them on his faith and oath, that he would obtaine a free pardon for all that which was past.
1759 D. Garrick Guardian ii. 41
She seem'd a little out of Humour,—And, upon my Faith, not the less beautiful for a little pouting.
1779 S. Dobson tr. J.-B. de la Curne de Sainte-Palaye Lit. Hist. Troubadors 128,
I should pass for a coward..to give up the portion my brother had resigned on his faith.
b. on the faith of: in reliance on the security of. [After French sur la foi de in reliance on the security of (a treaty, etc.) (1637 in the passage translated in quot. a1645; compare Middle French sur la foi de (of an oath) in reliance on the word of (a person)).]
a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) iii. iii. 100,
I give into their hands all regall authority, and on the faith of a solemne Treaty [Fr. sur la foy d'vn traité solemnel] open the gates of this fortresse.
1686 tr. J. Claude Acct. Persecutions Protestants in France 45
They live together in peace, on the Faith of Alliances, Treaties and Promises.
1770 I. Bickerstaff 'Tis Well it's no Worse v. i. 102,
I have delivered myself into your hands, Don Guzman, on the faith of your promise.
c. on faith: without evidence or investigation; on the authority of another person; on trust. Freq. in to take on faith : to believe or accept in this way; = to take on trust at trust n. 1c.
1822 T. C. Morgan Sketches Philos. Morals iii. 142
There is in moral science nothing more than in the other branches of philosophy; nothing mysterious, nothing to take on faith.
1866 Let. in E. Frame Twilight of Faith (1871) 10
When you tell your boy to give up the candy, because if he should eat it, he will be sick, and he obeys you, the child acts on faith.
1914 G. H. E. Hawkins Newspaper Advertising 57
The ‘blue sky’ days of advertising, when space was sold by personality and bought on faith, have passed.
1975 H. S. Thompson Let. 12 Oct. in Fear & Loathing in Amer. (2000) 664
The first time I get a chance to balance it out in some tangible way, I'll do it, which is something you'll just have to take on faith, for good or ill... Anyway, I owe you one.
1989 Mod. Lang. Jrnl. 73 494/2
The wisest course..would be to accept the case for polysyllabism on faith.
2005 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 10 July 16/3
I'm no historian, so I'll have to take it on faith that anyone not wearing tights would ever utter the statement, ‘Adieu until the morrow’.
P2.
With a verb.
a. In phrases relating to making, keeping, or breaking a promise, trust, oath, etc., as to keep (also †hold) (one's) faith ,to break (one's) faith , to plight (one's) faith , perjure one's faith . [Compare e.g. classical Latin fidem servāre, fidem tenēre, fidem retinēre to keep faith, fidem obligāre to plight faith, fidem frangere, fidem violāre to break faith, Anglo-Norman fiancer fei to pledge one's faith (1297 or earlier), plevir sa fei to pledge one's word (13th cent. or earlier), porter fei to keep faith, lit. ‘to carry faith’,prendre fei to accept someone's word (both late 12th cent.), mentir sa fei to break one's word or pledge (early 12th cent.).]
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 125 (MED),
Þe gentiles keped hir feiþ [L. fidem..servavere] to þe childe unto þe deienge of Robert.
?a1425 (▸c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 89
Non of hem holdeth feyth to another.
?c1425 (▸c1380) Chaucer Former Age (Cambr. Ii.3.21) (1878) l. 48
Euerych of hem his feith to oother kepte.
a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 3274
For glotonye he brake hys fayth.
?1483 Caxton tr. Caton i. sig. bj,
A man ought..to kepe hys feyth vnto his frendes.
1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin ix. 473
The better to make you serue for example of punishment to such as accursedly breake their faith to their soueraigne Prince.
c1592 Marlowe Jew of Malta ii. ii,
Faith is not to be held with heretics.
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 283
Berowne hath plighted Fayth to me.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 339
No Faith is to be held with such as differ from them.
1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals viii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 36,
I my Nisa's perjur'd Faith deplore.
1700 Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite 78
For you alone, I broke my Faith with injur'd Palamon.
1790 M. O. Warren Ladies of Castile iii. ii, in Poems 137
By St. Peter's key, I've sworn, nor will revoke my plighted faith.
b. to give (one's) faith to (also †unto) : to place trust in; to give credence to.
c1405 (▸c1390) Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) l. 607
God suffreth it for folk sholden yeue the moore feith and reuerence to his name.
1457 in A. Clark Lincoln Diocese Documents (1914) 97 (MED),
I haue bee present where suche articles and opinions haue bee taught..& yaf faith, credence and beleve to hem att diuers tymes.
1556 tr. J. de Flores Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. K4,
One oughte to geue more feithe vnto the secrete consentment of the soule, than [etc.].
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxxv. 140
Opinions..unto which they give so much faith.
1717 Pope Fable of Dryope in Wks. 278
If to the wretched any faith be giv'n.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. vii. 178
You believe..that I am willing to give faith to wonderful stories.
c. to keep the faith : to stay true or faithful to one's promises or convictions, or to the ideologies of a particular group or cause, esp. in testing circumstances; to remain loyal or steadfast. Freq. in imper. Cf. sense A. 6d.With allusion to 2 Timothy 4:7, ‘I haue fought a good fight, I haue finished my course, I haue kept the faith’ (King James Bible). Cf. to keep (also †hold) (one's) faithat Phrases 2a.
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P3.
Noun phrases.
age of faith n. (chiefly with the) (a name for) any period of history in which religion plays an important part, esp. the Middle Ages. Cf. the age of reason at reason n.1 Phrases 1d.
1679 N. Philips Holy Choice 20
Though we talk much in this Age of Faith, of Faith, and of our Dependance on Future good things, yet tis on Sight, on Sight and in the Enjoyment of the good things that are present, that all Felicity is Plac'd.
1795 Brit. Critic Apr. 427
If the present age be allowed to be, as it has been called, theage of reason, it cannot be the age of faith.
P4.
Other phrases.
a. contrary to faith and variants: not in accordance with religious doctrine; against the tenets of a faith (usu. Christianity).
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. ii. xvi. f. 99v,
They more hardly enforce this cauillation with sayeng, that I ascribe to the sonne of God desperation, whiche is contrarie to fayth [L. fidei contraria].
1647 Bp. J. Taylor Θεολογία Ἐκλεκτική xx. 252
Doctrines..such as are contrariant to Faith.
1753 Gentleman's Mag. May 236/2
The remonstrances of conscience are suppressed as contrary to faith.
b. O ye of little faith and variants: used to rebuke or chide someone who is mistrustful or sceptical of a person, idea, etc. Chiefly humorous in later use.With allusion to various passages in the New Testament (e.g. Matthew 16:8, Luke 12:28) in which Jesus exhorts his disciples to trust in God.
1762 London Evening Post 16
Nov. And can you, oh ye of little faith; suspect that a Prince with all these amiable qualities, will suffer himself to be cajoled..to sign an inglorious peace?
Compounds
C1.
General attrib.
faith-breach n. [compare post-classical Latin fidefragium (15th cent. in a British source); compare earlier faith-breakingn. and adj. at Compounds 2a and breach of faith at breach n.Additions]
1600 J. Golburne tr. C. de Valera Two Treat. i. 117
This faith-breach [Sp. este romper de fé], was cause of great bloodshed in the great warres which afterwards happened in Bohemia.
1726 A. Gavin Master-key to Popery (ed. 2) 108
The Romans say, no Faith is to be kept with Hereticks; and this Faith-Breach was the Occasion of great Blood-shed in the Wars.
faith definition n. now rare
1662 H. Holden Check 10
Make their acceptation the last and best Test of even a General Councils Infallibility in Faith-Definitions.
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 209
But he will finde no such fopperies in Faith-definitions made by the Catholick Church.
faith leader n.
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faith philosophy n.
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faith reformation n. rare
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 233
The..most refin'd quintessence of all Faith-Reformation.
faith tradition n.
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 43
A compleat and proper notion of Faith-Tradition.
C2.
a. Objective.
faith-breaker n. [compare post-classical Latin fidefragus,fidifragus (from 13th cent. in British sources)]
▸1440 Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 153 Feythe breke(r),..fidifragus.
a1649 W. Drummond Hist. James II in Wks. (1711) 30
They declare the King, and those that abode with him, Faith-breakers.
faith-breaking n. and adj.
1553 tr. S. Gardiner De Vera Obediencia: an Oration f. lviii,
What caste you him in the teth with faith breaking [L. fidei violationem]?
?1600 Earl of Essex Apologie sig. Div,
How easie it will be for a faith breaking enemie to confiscate all our countrimens goodes.
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis iii. vii. 174
The very instant of her faith-breaking.
1783 C. J. Fox Substance Speech E. India Bill 32,
To hear a Minister of this Country talk of fearing a war with that faith-breaking Nation.
faith-confirming adj.
1642 J. Vicars God in Mount 32
What faith-confirming and heart-cheering rich returns of prayers hath the Lord our good God cast into our blessed bosomes.
† faith-infringing adj. Obs.
1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie 24
A faith-infringing Polymnestor.
faith-keeping n. and adj.
c1485 (▸1456) G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 233
Than has he lak and dishonour, and j haue honour and worschip of faith keping.
1605 R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence viii. 253
This was..giuen..in recomendation of loyaltie or faith-keeping.
1661 R. Trail Traitors Claim 13
Drawing the guilt and disgrace of cruelty, revenge and perfidie on a Faith-keeping Prince and Parliament.
1720 M. Shelton Hist. & Crit. Ess. True Rise Nobility I. (new ed.) v. 341
In Recommendation of Loyalty or Faith-keeping.
faith-shaking adj.
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faith-straining adj.
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faith stretcher n.
1676 A. Marvell Gen. Councils in Wks. (1875) IV. 126
Those faith-stretchers..that put mens consciences upon the torture.
b. Instrumental and other compounds.
† faith-sown adj. Obs. rare.
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faith-starved adj.
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C3.
faith-based adj. chiefly U.S. (a) based on religious faith; (b)designating or relating to a charitable institution, social program, etc., created or managed by a religious organization.
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faith community n. (a) a community of people of the same religion; spec. a group of people leading a communal life according to their religious faith; (b) people with religious faith collectively.
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faith cure n. an instance of faith healing; a cure attributed to the power of faith.
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faith-curer n. = faith healer n.
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faith curist n. now rare. = faith healer n.
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Categories »
faith fire n. fig. faith imagined as a fire which produces light or heat, or which needs fuel or tending.
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faith group n. a group of people belonging to or representing a particular religious faith; the members of a particular faith considered collectively.
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faith healer n. a person who practises faith healing; cf. faith-curer n.
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faith healing n. healing attributed to the power of faith.
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faith ladder n. a model of a step-by-step process by which an individual comes to (religious) faith.The faith ladder is particularly associated with William James (1842-1910) whose description of the stages by which a person assents to faith was published posthumously in 1911.
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† faith-mark n. Obs. rare (a) an heirloom valued for its spiritual significance; (b) one of the main tenets of religion.
1652 W. Jenkyn Expos. Jude I. iii. 235
God forbid..that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. If the antient land-markes be not to be removed, much less the faith-markes.
† faith-press n. Obs. rare = inquisition n. 3. [After Dutch †geloof-pers , lit. ‘faith-oppression’ (1608 in the passage translated in quot. 1624).]
1624 T. Wood tr. W. Verheiden Oration 55
That most intolerable..thraldome of the Inquisition, or Faith-presse [Du. Gheloof-persse].
faith school n. now chiefly Brit. a school where teaching is given in accordance with the tenets of (a particular) religious faith; spec. a school especially for children of a particular religion.
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faith-state n. the state of having (religious) faith.
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faith value n. a quality, value, etc., deriving from or founded on faith; (also) value or worth with regard to faith.
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† faithworkful adj. Obs. rare (perh.) created as a work of faith.
1604 H. Broughton Aduert. Corrupt. Handling Relig. sig. M3,
Troupfull Gad was grauen in this faithworkfull stone.
Derivatives
faithwise adv. †(a) by means of faith; (b) with regard to faith.
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The citations in chronological order.
1300▸c Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2853 (MED), Hauelok... oþes swere, þat he sholden him god feyth bere.
1325a (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2187 Bi ðe feið ic og to king pharaon.
1325a (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2678 Ðat him sal feið wurðful ben boren.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 275 (MED), Now telle me, felawe, be þi feiȝþ..sei þou euer þemperour?
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 858 Fayn sche wold þan in feiþ haue fold him in hire armes.
1382▸a Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (1850) Prov. xi. 15 ... that doth feith [L. fidem facit] for a stranger.
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Tim. vi. 10 Sum men..erreden fro the feith, ...
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Rom. iii. 26 ...of the feith of Jhesu Crist.
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) James ii. 17 Feith [L. fides], if it haue not werkes, ...
1387▸a R. Higden Polychron. (1879) VII. 125 (MED), Þe gentiles keped hir feiþ [L. fidem..servavere]...
1389 in T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 39 Þe feyth þat þei owen to god.
1390c (▸?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 11 (MED), Ioseph..hedde I-turned to þe feyþ fifti with ...
1391▸c Gower Confessio Amantis (Huntington) vii. l. 3221* (MED), ‘Which is thi creance and thi feith?’...
1393▸a Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 707 (MED),...which..Set upon him feith or credence.
1393▸a Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 2049 Thus he..feigneth under guile feith.
1393▸a Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 852 ... seith, That full of trouthe and full of feith Thei ben.
1393▸a Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 1520 Forto yive a more feith..In blake clothes thei ...
1400?a (▸a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt 511) ii. 333... Of Scotlond þe best were þan in his feith.
1400?c (▸c1380) Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. ) (1868) iii.pr. xii. l. 3002 ... hir feiþ and...
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21013 Iacob þe mar..þe land o spaigne in fait he fest.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3405 (MED), In drightin was his fayth ai fest.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6980 Þair faith lasted littel space,..þai..lefte þe lagh of hei drightin.
1400c (▸?c1384) Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 378 Freris perverten þo right feithe of þo sacrament ...
1400c (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §4. l. 36... my spirit ne hath no feith.
1405 c(▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 378 ... false feith to trowe in god allone.
1405 c(▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 538 ... the feith to teche.
1405 c(▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 64 Feith is deed with outen werkis.
1405c (▸c1390) Chaucer Monk's Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 47 Vp on my feith, thow art som Officer.
1405c (▸c1390) Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) l. 607 ... the moore feith and reuerence...
1405c (▸c1390) Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) l. 929 Man sholde bere hym to his wyf In feith...
1405c (▸c1395) Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 431 Lo here my feith in me shal be no lak.
1421 in J. B. Paul Registrum Magni Sigilli Scotorum (1882) II. 30/1 ... be the faythis of thair boiddis.
1425?a (▸c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 11 ... ȝit þei varien from oure feith.
1425?a (▸c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 89 Non of hem holdeth feyth to another.
1425?c (▸c1380) Chaucer Former Age (Cambr. Ii.3.21) (1878) l. 48 Euerych of hem his feith ...
1425c Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 7541 (MED),... Made feith to hym and y-don homage.
1425c Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 2176 ...For feith nor oþe, but raþer mercyable.
1438▸a Bk. Margery Kempe i. 122 Þe clerkys examynde hir in þe Articles of þe Feyth.
1440▸ Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 153 Feythe breke(r),..fidifragus.
1443▸c R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1987) 425 Feith is a knowingal vertu—...
1450a Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 9969 He toke feith of free and bond.
1450a Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 3274 For glotonye he brake hys fayth.
1450a Terms Assoc. in PMLA (1936) 51 604 (MED), A feyth of Marchantes.
1450a (▸?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) (1810) 4062 He is at the Sarezynes faith.
1450a (▸1369) Chaucer Bk. Duchess (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 632 Wiþ-oute feiþ lawe or mesure She is fals.
1456▸c R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 123 Othere feithis..mowe be geten bi ...
1456▸c R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 123 That feith..is thilke kinde or spice of knowyng, ...
1457 in A. Clark Lincoln Diocese Documents (1914) 97 (MED), ...bee taught..& yaf faith,...
1475a in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1911) i. 178 (MED),... ferme & sure by hys feythe & trowþe.
1475c (▸a1400) J. Robson Three Early Eng. Metrical Romances (1842) 31 ...Hi-fath, ther wille him ...
1477 Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 48 By your faith seme ye good that I ought to goo after him.
1483 Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ccxxiij/1, Alle made fayth to other that [etc.].
1483? Caxton tr. Caton i. sig. bj, A man ought..to kepe hys feyth vnto his frendes.
1485 Caxton in tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete Prol. sig. aij/1, The cristen feyth is...
1485c (▸1456) G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 233...and worschip of faith keping.
1490 Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxv. 538 Vpon the feyth that ye owe to me.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xxiii. 75 On my feyth ye be well the man.
1495 Trevisa's Barth. De Propr. Rerum xv. lxxxvii. sig. Hiijv/1,..... & fayth [a1398 BL Add. fey] of one god.
1500?c Conversion of St. Paul (Digby) l. 240 A very pynacle of the fayth.
1500a in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 63 ...alonly hys faythe for hys tenementes.
1513a H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xvi. sig. e.viii, Prechynge..The faythes of holy chyrche.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxi. 254 T... on theyr faithes [Fr. sur leurs fois].
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxiv. f. xiiiiv, To hym we owe to bere faith and trouth...
1526 Tyndale Prol. Moses in Wks. 7 Fayth, ..., which fayth iustified Abrah.
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes ii, in Wks. 179/1 The churche..muste..haue all one fayth.
1547a J. Redford Moral Play Wit & Sci. (1848) 11 Do ye fle, ifayth?
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clxxxiijv, Emongest men of warre, faith or othe, syldome is perfourmed.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xcviijv, Promisyng and behightyng, by the faith of his body.
1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Aivv, Se that thy fayth be pitched On thy Lord God.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Piij, An historicall faith. As I do beleue that William Conqueror ...
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Fiij, They haue no law written, and are of no faith.
1553 S. Gardiner De Vera Obed.: an Oration f. lviii, ... in the teth with faith breaking [L. fidei violationem]?
1555 Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. aijv, The Indians subdued to the fayth.
1556 t Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. G3, The manney folde paines..makethe cleare feithe ...
1556 tr. J. de Flores Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. K4, One oughte to geue more feithe vnto...
1556a N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. ii. sig. Biv, Faith sir, and I nere had more nede of ...
1558 Bp. T. Watson Holsome Doctr. Seuen Sacramentes xxviii. f. clxxiiii, ... my faythe and truthe...
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. ii. xvi. f. 99v, ... is contrarie to fayth [L. fidei contraria].
1565 tr. Origen Homilie of Marye Magdalene sig. D.viiv, I do beleue and this is my faith, that God...
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 78 Vntill he were returned unto his fayth.
1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin ix. 473 ... breake their faith to their soueraigne Prince.
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 375 Faith..maketh God & man friends.
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 807 Faith was made to them, that..they should come safe.
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epist. 3 By my faith, by my faith..this geare ...
1592 A. Day Eng. Secretorie ii. sig. H2v, Faith Sir..tis but as the wiser sort doe hold opinion.
1592c Marlowe Jew of Malta ii. ii, Faith is not to be held with heretics.
1596 L. Keymis Relation 2nd Voy. Guiana sig. G2v, He reposed himselfe more on the faith of his ...
1598 M. Drayton Englands Heroicall Epist. (new ed.) f. 52, Ifaith her Queenship little rest should take.
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 283 Berowne hath plighted Fayth to me.
1598 J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. i. 2/1.... oathes of faith and allegiance ...
1600 J. Golburne tr. C. de Valera Two Treat. i. 117 This faith-breach [Sp. este romper de fé], was...
1600 Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 127 Bearing the badge of faith to prooue them true.
1600 Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 71 He weares his faith but as the fashion of his hat.
1600 ? Earl of Essex Apologie sig. Div, How easie it will be for a faith breaking enemie to confiscate...
1602 T. Lodge tr. Josephus Wks. xx. ii. 516 Assuring them on his faith and oath,...
1604 H. Broughton Aduert. Corrupt. Handling Relig. sig. M3, ... in this faithworkfull stone.
1605 B. Jonson Sejanus iii. sig. G, Great Titus Livius, great for eloquence, And fayth [1616 faith], ...
1605 R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence viii. 253 ...of loyaltie or faith-keeping.
1607 T. Middleton Revengers Trag. v. sig. I4v, Yfaith, we're well.
1608 Shakespeare King Lear xxi. 68 Be your teares wet, yes faith, I pray weep not.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 3 A manifest falling away from the Faith.
1616a Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. i. 79 Now by my faith and honour.
1616a Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. ii. 412 By the faith of my loue, I will.
1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie 24 A faith-infringing Polymnestor.
1624 T. Wood tr. W. Verheiden Oration 55 ... of the Inquisition, or Faith-presse [Du. Gheloof-persse].
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis iii. vii. 174 The very instant of her faith-breaking.
1628a J. Preston Breast-plate of Faith (1630) 15 Faith is..assenting to Truthes for the ...
1634 J. Ford Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck ii. iii. sig. E, Cease perswasions, I violate no pawnes of faythes, ...
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie (1636) i. iii. 108 The Gospel conteineth intirely the faith.
1638 A. Cowley Loves Riddle i. i. sig. A6v, 'Faith, I am very chary of my health.
1638a J. Mede Epist. to Estwick in Wks. (1672) iv. 836 S. Jerom is a man of no faith with me.
1642 J. Vicars God in Mount 32 What faith-confirming and heart-cheering rich returns of ...
1643a W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) iii. ii. 38, I swear by the faith of my Body now It is a pretty thing.
1645a M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) iii. iii. 100, ... the faith of a solemne Treaty [Fr. sur la foy d'vn traité solemnel] ...
1647 Bp. J. Taylor Θεολογία Ἐκλεκτική xx. 252 Doctrines..such as are contrariant to Faith.
1649 J. Evelyn Let. 26 Mar. in Diary & Corr. (1859) III. 40 Persons of great faith to his Majesty's cause.
1649a W. Drummond Hist. James II in Wks. (1711) 30 They declare the King...Faith-breakers.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iii. xlii. 271 Faith is a gift of God, which Man can neither give, nor take away.
1652 W. Jenkyn Expos. Jude I. iii. 235 ... much less the faith-markes.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxxv. 140 Opinions..unto which they give so much faith.
1654 Bp. J. Taylor Real Presence xii. 27 An excellent MS. that makes faith in this particular.
1659 A. Burgess Script. Directory 128 This is a meer political faith. Many men have no ...
1659 W. Goodsonn Let. 6 Mar. in T. Birch Coll. State Papers J. Thurloe (1742) VII. 628 And faith,...
1661 R. Trail Traitors Claim 13 ... of cruelty, revenge and perfidie on a Faith-...
1662 H. Holden Check 10 ... even a General Councils Infallibility in Faith-Definitions.
1663 tr. G. Biondi Penitent Bandito sig. D6v, Father, I give you my faith, that I do not, at all,...
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 209 But he will finde no such fopperies in Faith-definitions made ...
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 233 The..most refin'd quintessence of all Faith-Reformation.
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 43 A compleat and proper notion of Faith-Tradition.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 339 No Faith is to be held with such as differ from them.
1668 M. Casaubon Of Credulity & Incred. (1670) 111 ...to make faith or evidence of his Deity.
1671 Milton Samson Agonistes 986 ..., chose Above the faith of wedlock-bands.
1676 A. Marvell Gen. Councils in Wks. (1875) IV. 126 Those faith-stretchers..that put mens ...
1679 N. Philips Holy Choice 20 ... this Age of Faith, of Faith, ...our Dependance on Future good things,...
1680 C. Blount Great is Diana 29 This was the Heathen Faith; for although they did not own themselves ...
1680 T. Otway Orphan ii. 21 Attempt no farther to delude my Faith.
1680 W. Rogers 1st Pt. Christian-Quaker iv. 24 Others held forth the Visible Orders, and Written Faiths ...
1686 tr. J. Claude Acct. Persecutions Protestants in France 45 They live together in peace, on the Faith ...
1688 T. Brown Reasons Mr. Bays 17 This is a cutter, by my faith Mr. Bays, it lashes somewhere ...
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. xviii. 348 Faith..is the Assent to any Proposition...
1694 tr. Lett. Turkish Spy VIII. iv. iv. 253 This is my Faith. That there are Paradises of all Sorts and ...
1696 J. Sergeant Method to Sci. iii. viii. 328 Faith or Belief (speaking of Human Faith to ...
1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals viii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 36, I my Nisa's perjur'd Faith deplore.
1697 M. Tindal Ess. Concerning Power of Magistrate ii. iii. 91 ... a Medicine he has no Faith in.
1700 Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite 78 For you alone, I broke my Faith with injur'd Palamon.
1702 C. Brent Ess. Nature Guilt & Lying ii. 120 ... their violations of Military Faith and Honour.
1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi i. v. 21 ...utterly subverting the Faith in the important Points.
1708 W. Crouch Sin of Covetousness ix. 81 ...many Ages and Generations, have gained Faith and Credit)...
1709 Tatler No. 110. ⁋4 Faith Isaac..thou art a very unaccountable old Fellow.
1711 Swift in Examiner 26 Apr. ... to be exactly of the same Political Faith.
1717 Pope Fable of Dryope in Wks. 278 If to the wretched any faith be giv'n.
1720 M. Shelton Hist. & Crit. Ess. True Rise Nobility I. (new ed.) v. 341 ...f Loyalty or Faith-keeping.
1721 E. Young Revenge iii. i. 32 O sacred Faith! How dearly I abide thy Violation!
1722 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. II. i. 13 Doctor Oats had made Faith that several ...
1725 I. Watts Logick ii. ii. §9 ..., it is called the Evidence of Faith.
1726 A. Gavin Master-key to Popery (ed. 2) 108 The Romans say, no Faith ... Faith-Breach ...
1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 375 Relying on the Faith of Books.
1736 A. Hill Zara i. i. 5 That Cross, ..., a Pledge of Faith.
1741 C. Middleton tr. Cicero in Hist. Life Cicero I. vi. 492, ..., into your's, illustrious for victory and faith.
1744 Swift Serm. Trinity 52 Faith is an entire Dependence upon the Truth...
1748 J. A. Eisenmenger Rabinical Lit. (new ed.) II. App. 227 ...and the Faith of the Jews have always stood.
1753 Gentleman's Mag. May 236/2 The remonstrances of conscience are suppressed as contrary to faith.
1756 T. Amory Life John Buncle I. xxvi. 128 ... and to have a faith in God's power and all-sufficiency.
1759 D. Garrick Guardian ii. 41 ...And, upon my Faith, not the less beautiful for a little pouting.
1762 London Evening Post 16 Nov. And can you, oh ye of little faith; suspect that a Prince with ...
1764 H. Walpole Let. 11 Jan. in Corr. with G. Montagu (1941) II. 117 .,..Defender of the sylphic faith.
1770 I. Bickerstaff 'Tis Well it's no Worse v. i. 102, ... Don Guzman, on the faith of your promise.
1770a J. Jortin Serm. (1774) I. ii. 30 When..the inward light waxes dim, the faith is gone.
1774a A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. ii. 226 Such a one has great faith in Ward's pills.
1777 J. Richardson Dict. Persian, Arabic & Eng. I. Dissert. 24/2 An open scoffer at the Moslem faith.
1779 J.-B. de la Curne de Sainte-Palaye Lit. Hist. Troubadors 128, ... my brother had resigned on his faith.
1780 ? Comical Sayings Pady from Cork 7 Faith, he was not such a big fool as die yet.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall II. 129 The two princes mutually engaged their faith never to...
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 111 Faith, the root whence only can arise The graces of a life ...
1783 C. J. Fox Substance Speech E. India Bill 32, ... fearing a war with that faith-breaking Nation.
1786 R. Burns Let. 9 July in Wks. (1834) VII. 2 One of the servant girls made faith that ...
1787 J. Reeves Hist. Eng. Law (ed. 2) I. vii. 406 In common cases..the essoniator gave his faith, ...
1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 124, I never, a' my days, Had meikle faith in spaemen, or their says.
1790 M. O. Warren Ladies of Castile iii. ii, in Poems 137 By St. Peter's key,.. my plighted faith.
1791 R. Sadler Wanley Penson II. vii. 315 Well, I'm glad thee beest not hanged, faith!
1793 S. T. Coleridge Lett. (1895) 50 ... converted many souls to the Foxite faith.
1794 E. Swedenborg Delights of Wisdom conc. Conjugial Love 36 ... they would take away all faith ....
1795 Brit. Critic Apr. 427 ... as it has been called, theage of reason, it cannot be the age of faith.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. vii. 178 You believe..that I am willing to give faith to wonderful stories.
1798 Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 45 Strange, by my faith! the Hermit said.
Forms:
α. eME feið, ME faiþ, ME faiþe, ME fayþ, ME feiȝþ, ME feiȝth, ME feiȝthe, ME feiþ, ME feiþe, ME feþ, ME feyþ, ME ffayth, ME ffeyþ, ME ffeyth, ME–16 faithe, ME–16 fayth, ME–16 faythe, ME–16 feith, ME–16 feithe, ME–16 feyth, ME–16 feythe, ME– faith, lME fath, 15 faieth, 15fayeth, 15 feathe, 15 fethe, 15 (18 Irish English (Wexford)) fythe, 16 ffaith, 16 (18 in Phrases 1a(b)) feth, 18 faaighe (Irish English (Wexford)), 18 faighe (Irish English (Wexford)); also Sc. pre-17 fath, pre-17 fathe, pre-17 18– feth (now also Irish English (north.)).
β. ME fait, ME fayt, ME feiȝt, ME feyght, ME feyghte, ME feyt, 15 faight; also Sc. pre-17 facht, pre-17 faicht, pre-17 faitht, pre-17 fatht, pre-17 faycht, pre-17 faytht, 18 fait.
See also fay n.1
Etymology:
< Anglo-Norman and Old French feid, feit, fait (also Anglo-Norman and Middle French foit , Anglo-Norman and Old French fei , Anglo-Norman and Middle French, French foi : see fay n.1) religious faith (late 11th cent.), word of honour (c1100), fidelity, loyalty, allegiance (all late 12th cent.), (of an argument) credibility (mid 13th cent.), trust (second half of the 13th cent.), reliability (late 13th cent. or earlier), (with definite article) the Christian religion (a1417) < classical Latin fidēs trust, guarantee, promise, assurance, fulfilment of a promise, proof, confirmation, authoritativeness, credit, good name, financial credit, honesty, honour, loyalty, allegiance, credibility, trustworthiness, reliability, belief, conviction, confidence, range or possibility of belief, in post-classical Latin also belief in the Christian religion, Christian doctrine (Vulgate), the Christian religion (late 2nd or early 3rd cent. in Tertullian), profession of the Christian religion (4th cent.) < the base of fīdere to trust < the same Indo-European base as ancient Greek πείθεσθαι to be persuaded, to obey, and probably bide v., and also (with different ablaut grade) Gothic baidjan to compel, exercise a moral constraint (see bad adj., n.2, and adv.), Old Church Slavonic bědanecessity, distress, Lithuanian bėda misfortune, trouble, Albanian be oath.
Compare Old Occitan fe (c1100), Catalan fe (c1200), Spanish fe (12th cent., also †he (14th cent.)), Portuguese fé (12th cent.), Italian fede (mid 13th cent.). Compare also Welsh ffydd (13th cent as fit ; < Latin).
Phonology.
The dental fricative in English apparently reflects the pronunciation of the final consonant in the earliest stages of Anglo-Norman and Old French (before its deletion, probably in the 11th cent.), this would make faith the only borrowing from Anglo-Norman to preserve this feature in a monosyllabic word (compare the parallel borrowing fayn.1, without it); it may have been preserved under the influence of the semantically related truth n. and troth n. (For preservation of the early French final dental in suffixes, compare e.g. dainteth n. and the β. forms at plenty n., adj., and adv.)
It has also been suggested that the final dental in English faith is -th suffix1 (i.e. showing suffixation of fei fay n.1within English), but this rarely combines with nouns and not normally with first elements of non-Germanic origin.
Models for religious senses.
Ancient Greek πίστις , which is ultimately related to classical Latin fidēs and is generally translated by the Latin word in the New Testament, has a similar range of senses: trust, confidence, assurance, trustworthiness, honesty, credit, religious belief (in Hellenistic Greek also specifically denoting the Christian religion), pledge, guarantee, argument, proof.
With sense A. 6 compare Anglo-Norman la commune fei the Catholic faith, lit. ‘the common faith’ (first half of the 12th cent); post-classical Latin fides catholica (4th cent.).
Models for other specific uses.
With to give (one's) faith at sense A. 2 compare classical Latin fidem dare .
With to give faith at sense A. 4 compare classical Latin fidem dare (2nd cent. a.d. in Apuleius; rare), Anglo-Normandoner fei (a) to put faith (in), to trust (early 14th cent.).
With to make (also do) faith at sense A. 3 compare classical Latin fidem facere to give surety, and also Anglo-Norman faire fei to swear loyalty (a1325 or earlier).
Earlier synonyms.
In Old English, various aspects of ‘faith’ were expressed with trēowþ (see truth n. and compare troth n.); in religious contexts, gelēafa was used instead (see yleve n. and compare belief n.).
A. n.
I. The fulfilment of a trust or promise, and related senses.
1a. The quality of fulfilling one's trust or promise; faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty; trustworthiness. Also in to bear faith : to be loyal (to someone). Now rare.Recorded earliest in good faith n. Cf. bad faith n., breach of faith at breach n.Additions.
▸c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2853 (MED),
Hauelok..dide hem grete oþes swere, þat he sholden him god feyth bere.
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2678
Ðat him sal feið wurðful ben boren.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 2049
Thus he..feigneth under guile feith.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6980
Þair faith lasted littel space,..þai..lefte þe lagh of hei drightin.
c1405 (▸c1390) Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) l. 929
Man sholde bere hym to his wyf In feith, in trouthe, and in loue.
a1450 (▸1369) Chaucer Bk. Duchess (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 632
Wiþ-oute feiþ lawe or mesure She is fals.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxiv. f. xiiiiv,
To hym we owe to bere faith and trouth, as duke of Acquitayne and pere of Fraunce.
1600 Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 127
Bearing the badge of faith to prooue them true.
1649 J. Evelyn Let. 26 Mar. in Diary & Corr. (1859) III. 40
Persons of great faith to his Majesty's cause.
1702 C. Brent Ess. Nature Guilt & Lying ii. 120
He does not forget to make them reflect remorsefully on upon their violations of Military Faith and Honour.
1741 C. Middleton tr. Cicero in Hist. Life Cicero I. vi. 492,
I deliver the whole man to you, from my hand, as we say, into your's, illustrious for victory and faith.
b. The duty of fulfilling one's trust; allegiance owed to a superior, fealty; the obligation of a promise or engagement. Also in to make faith : to swear fealty. See also Phrases 2a.in (also at) (a person's) faith : under obligation of fealty (to a person).
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2187
Bi ðe feið ic og to king pharaon.
1389 in T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 39
Þe feyth þat þei owen to god.
?a1400 (▸a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt 511) ii. 333
Sire Eymere of Valence lay at Saynt Jon toun, In his alience with many erle & baroun; Of Scotlond þe best were þan in his feith.
c1425 Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 7541 (MED),
And hiȝe and low..Hadde openly in a parlement Made feith to hym and y-don homage.
a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 9969
He toke feith of free and bond.
1490 Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxv. 538
Vpon the feyth that ye owe to me.
a1500 in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 63
The Lorde of þe fee..schall never clame no thyng..bott alonly hys faythe for hys tenementes.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 78
Vntill he were returned unto his fayth.
1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. i. 2/1
The Lordes..tooke their oathes of faith and allegiance vnto Don Phillip.
1671 Milton Samson Agonistes 986
Who to save Her countrey from a fierce destroyer, chose Above the faith of wedlock-bands.
1736 A. Hill Zara i. i. 5
That Cross, which, from your Infant Years Has been preserv'd, was found upon your Bosom, As if design'd, by Heaven, a Pledge of Faith.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall II. 129
The two princes mutually engaged their faith never to undertake any thing to the prejudice of each other.
2. A pledge, a formal declaration, a solemn promise; esp. into give (one's) faith . See also Phrases 2a. Now rare and arch.
c1405 (▸c1395) Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 431
Lo here my feith in me shal be no lak.
c1425 Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 2176
As sittyng is to femynyte Of nature nat be vengable, For feith nor oþe, but raþer mercyable.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clxxxiijv,
Emongest men of warre, faith or othe, syldome is perfourmed.
1558 Bp. T. Watson Holsome Doctr. Seuen Sacramentes xxviii. f. clxxiiii,
Jane, here I geue to thee my faythe and truthe..I wyll marrye thee.
1634 J. Ford Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck ii. iii. sig. E,
Cease perswasions, I violate no pawnes of faythes, intrude not On private loues.
1663 tr. G. Biondi Penitent Bandito sig. D6v,
Father, I give you my faith, that I do not, at all, bewail my death.
1721 E. Young Revenge iii. i. 32
O sacred Faith! How dearly I abide thy Violation!
1787 J. Reeves Hist. Eng. Law (ed. 2) I. vii. 406
In common cases..the essoniator gave his faith, that he would produce his principal at another day.
†II. Inducement to belief or trust.
3. Attestation, confirmation, assurance; esp. in to make (alsodo) faith : to attest; to affirm, confirm; to give surety. Obs.
▸a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. xi. 15
He shal be tormentid with euel, that doth feith [L. fidem facit] for a stranger.
1483 Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ccxxiij/1,
Alle made fayth to other that [etc.].
1556 tr. J. de Flores Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. G3,
The manney folde paines..makethe cleare feithe inoughe, that the greter follie is yowres.
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 807
Faith was made to them, that..they should come safe.
1654 Bp. J. Taylor Real Presence xii. 27
An excellent MS. that makes faith in this particular.
1668 M. Casaubon Of Credulity & Incred. (1670) 111
Christ his miracles without further consideration..to make faith or evidence of his Deity.
1722 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. II. i. 13
Doctor Oats had made Faith that several of that Cattle were sent down from England to Scotland.
1786 R. Burns Let. 9 July in Wks. (1834) VII. 2
One of the servant girls made faith that she upon a time rashly entered the house.
4. Power to convince; credibility, credit, convincing authority. Obs.to give faith : to create credibility.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 852
Anon mi faste I breke On suche wordes as sche seith, That full of trouthe and full of feith Thei ben.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 1520
Forto yive a more feith..In blake clothes thei hem clothe.
?c1400 (▸c1380) Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iii.pr. xii. l. 3002
Þe whiche proeues drawen to hemself hir feiþ and hir accorde eueriche [of] hem of oþer.
1596 L. Keymis Relation 2nd Voy. Guiana sig. G2v,
He reposed himselfe more on the faith of his guides the[n] on his small number of men.
1605 B. Jonson Sejanus iii. sig. G,
Great Titus Livius, great for eloquence, And fayth [1616 faith], amongst vs, in his Historie.
a1638 J. Mede Epist. to Estwick in Wks. (1672) iv. 836
S. Jerom is a man of no faith with me.
1708 W. Crouch Sin of Covetousness ix. 81
The best of Records extant in the whole World (and which thro' many Ages and Generations, have gained Faith and Credit) have recogniz'd him to be a very Meek Man.
1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 375
Relying on the Faith of Books.
1808 W. Mitford Hist. Greece (new ed.) IV. xxxi. 124
It may not be unnecessary..towards establishing the faith of the foregoing..narrative.
III. Belief, trust, confidence.
5. Belief in and acceptance of the doctrines of a religion, typically involving belief in a god or gods and in the authenticity of divine revelation. Also (Theol.): the capacity to spiritually apprehend divine truths, or realities beyond the limits of perception or of logical proof, viewed either as a faculty of the human soul, or as the result of divine illumination.Earlier evidence refers almost exclusively to the Christian religion, divine revelation being viewed as contained either in Holy Scripture or in the teaching of the Church. In this context faith is often considered in relation to justification before God, and contrasted with works. Cf. justifying faith at justifying adj. Special uses.
▸c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) James ii. 17
Feith [L. fides], if it haue not werkes, is deed in it silf.
c1405 (▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 64
Feith is deed with outen werkis.
▸c1443 R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1987) 425
Feith is a knowingal vertu—þat is to seie such where wiþ we knowen sum treuþe and is þe knowing of þe same trouþ.
▸c1456 R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 123
That feith..is thilke kinde or spice of knowyng, which a man gendrith and getith into his undirstonding.
1526 Tyndale Prol. Moses in Wks. 7
Fayth, is the beleuyng of Gods promises, and a sure trust in the goodnes and truth of God, which fayth iustified Abrah.
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 375
Faith..maketh God & man friends.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iii. xlii. 271
Faith is a gift of God, which Man can neither give, nor take away.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. xviii. 348
Faith..is the Assent to any Proposition..upon the Credit of the Proposer, as coming immediately from God, which we call Revelation.
1744 Swift Serm. Trinity 52
Faith is an entire Dependence upon the Truth, the Power, the Justice, and the mercy of God.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 111
Faith, the root whence only can arise The graces of a life that wins the skies.
6 a. A system of religious belief. Freq. with modifying word, asChristian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.
▸c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Rom. iii. 26
That he be iust, and iustifyinge him that is of the feith of Jhesu Crist.
▸c1391 Gower Confessio Amantis (Huntington) vii. l. 3221* (MED),
‘Which is thi creance and thi feith?’ ‘I am paien,’ that other seith.
c1405 (▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 378
They gonnen fro the tormentours to reue..The false feith to trowe in god allone.
?a1425 (▸c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 11
Men of Grece ben cristene, ȝit þei varien from oure feith.
a1450 (▸?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) (1810) 4062
He is at the Sarezynes faith.
1485 Caxton in tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete Prol. sig. aij/1,
The cristen feyth is..corrobered by the doctours of holy chyrche.
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes ii, in Wks. 179/1
The churche..muste..haue all one fayth.
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Fiij,
They haue no law written, and are of no faith.
1600 Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 71
He weares his faith but as the fashion of his hat.
1680 C. Blount Great is Diana 29
This was the Heathen Faith; for although they did not own themselves to be made after the Image of God, yet did they in their fond Imaginations make their Gods after the Image of men.
1748 J. P. Stehelin tr. J. Buxtorf in J. A. Eisenmenger Rabinical Lit. (new ed.) II. App. 227
Upon these Articles.., the Religion of Moses and the Faith of the Jews have always stood.
1764 H. Walpole Let. 11 Jan. in Corr. with G. Montagu (1941) II. 117
We Oberon the grand,..Defender of the sylphic faith.
1777 J. Richardson Dict. Persian, Arabic & Eng. I. Dissert. 24/2
An open scoffer at the Moslem faith.
6 b. the faith (also the Faith): that system of religious belief which is regarded as true and correct; the true religion; spec.(esp. in earlier use) Christianity, or a particular branch of it. Also in extended use denoting non-religious beliefs (cf. senseA. 6d). Cf. defender of the faith at defender n. 2b.Sometimes without the in early use and in certain fixed phrases, as of faith: part and parcel of the faith. See also contrary to faith at Phrases 4a, Confession of Faith atconfession n. 7a.
▸c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Tim. vi. 10
Sum men..erreden fro the feith, and bisettiden hem with many sorwis.
c1390 (▸?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 11 (MED),
Ioseph..hedde I-turned to þe feyþ fifti with him-seluen.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21013
Iacob þe mar..þe land o spaigne in fait he fest.
c1405 (▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 538
Thre dayes lyued she..And neuere cessed hem the feith to teche.
▸a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe i. 122
Þe clerkys examynde hir in þe Articles of þe Feyth.
?c1500 Conversion of St. Paul (Digby) l. 240
A very pynacle of the fayth.
1555 R. Eden in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. aijv,
The Indians subdued to the fayth.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 3
A manifest falling away from the Faith.
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie (1636) i. iii. 108
The Gospel conteineth intirely the faith.
1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi i. v. 21
For the poor Non-Conformists, by their hot pressing of those Indifferencies..utterly subverting the Faith in the important Points.
a1770 J. Jortin Serm. (1774) I. ii. 30
When..the inward light waxes dim, the faith is gone.
6 c. That which is believed, or required to be believed, on a particular subject; a belief. Also in pl.: points of faith, tenets. Cf. article of faith at article n. Phrases 1a. Now somewhat rare.
c1400 (▸?c1384) Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 378
Freris perverten þo right feithe of þo sacrament of þo auter.
▸c1456 R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 123
Othere feithis..mowe be geten bi telling or denouncing of an othere persoone, which may not lie.
a1513 H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xvi. sig. e.viii,
Prechynge..The faythes of holy chyrche.
1565 tr. Origen Homilie of Marye Magdalene sig. D.viiv,
I do beleue and this is my faith, that God is hable to raise hym vp, yea though he be dead.
1680 W. Rogers 1st Pt. Christian-Quaker iv. 24
Others held forth the Visible Orders, and Written Faiths of a Visible Church to be as a Lanthorn to their Paths.
1694 tr. Lett. Turkish Spy VIII. iv. iv. 253
This is my Faith. That there are Paradises of all Sorts and Degrees prepar'd with exquisite Proportion for the various Kinds of Men.
1756 T. Amory Life John Buncle I. xxvi. 128
To enable them to do all things appertaining to life and godliness, and to have a faith in God's power and all-sufficiency.
1794 J. Clowes tr. E. Swedenborg Delights of Wisdom conc. Conjugial Love 36
Many more like objections, which, the instant they were made, they would take away all faith respecting marriages in another life.
6 d. A system of (non-religious) belief; a set of firmly held principles, ideals, or beliefs; a creed. Usu. with modifying word.
1659 A. Burgess Script. Directory 128
This is a meer political faith. Many men have no other apprehension about Religion, than the Laws of the Land, in which they live.
1711 Swift in Examiner 26 Apr.
I look upon the Whigs and Dissenters to be exactly of the same Political Faith.
1793 S. T. Coleridge Lett. (1895) 50
Have you read Mr. Fox's letter to the Westminster electors? It is quite the political go at Cambridge, and has converted many souls to the Foxite faith.
7 a. Chiefly with in (formerly also †of). Firm trust or belief in or reliance upon something (e.g. the truth of a statement or doctrine; the ability, goodness, etc., of a person, the efficacy or worth of a thing); confidence; credence.Originally chiefly in religious contexts.
See also to give faith to at Phrases 2b.
blind faith: see blind adj. Special uses. to pin one's faith on: see pin v.1 4b.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 707 (MED),
Thanne is he swiftest to beguile The womman, which..Set upon him feith or credence.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3405 (MED),
In drightin was his fayth ai fest.
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §4. l. 36
Theise ben obseruauncez of..paiens, in which my spirit ne hath no feith.
1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xv. lxxxvii. sig. Hiijv/1,
Ye Germans tornyd them [sc. the Liuones]..to the worshyp & fayth [a1398 BL Add. fey] of one god.
1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Aivv,
Se that thy fayth be pitched On thy Lord God.
1680 T. Otway Orphan ii. 21
Attempt no farther to delude my Faith.
1697 M. Tindal Ess. Concerning Power of Magistrate ii. iii. 91
A Man may be cured by a Medicine he has no Faith in.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. ii. 226
Such a one has great faith in Ward's pills.
1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 124, I never, a' my days, Had meikle faith in spaemen, or their says.
7 b. Belief based on evidence, testimony, or authority.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Piij,
An historicall faith. As I do beleue that William Conqueror was kyng of Englande.
a1628 J. Preston Breast-plate of Faith (1630) 15
Faith is..assenting to Truthes for the Authority of the Speaker.
1696 J. Sergeant Method to Sci. iii. viii. 328
Faith or Belief (speaking of Human Faith to which our Circumstances determine our Discourse) is built on Human Testimony or Witnessing Authority.
1725 I. Watts Logick ii. ii. §9
When we derive the Evidence of any Proposition from the Testimony of others, it is called the Evidence of Faith.
†IV. As a collective term.
8. A company of merchants. Obs.One of many alleged group names found in late Middle English glossarial sources, but not otherwise substantiated.
a1450 Terms Assoc. in PMLA (1936) 51 604 (MED),
A feyth of Marchantes.
B. int.
Emphasize the truth of a statement: really, truly. Also in weakened use as a filler, with little or no semantic force. Cf.in faith at Phrases 1a(b). In later use chiefly Irish English.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. ii. sig. Biv,
Faith sir, and I nere had more nede of a newe cote.
1592 A. Day Eng. Secretorie ii. sig. H2v,
Faith Sir..tis but as the wiser sort doe hold opinion.
1608 Shakespeare King Lear xxi. 68
Be your teares wet, yes faith, I pray weep not.
1638 A. Cowley Loves Riddle i. i. sig. A6v,
'Faith, I am very chary of my health.
1659 W. Goodsonn Let. 6 Mar. in T. Birch Coll. State Papers J. Thurloe (1742) VII. 628
And faith, he received them at Gottenburgh the 23d of February.
1709 Tatler No. 110. ⁋4
Faith Isaac..thou art a very unaccountable old Fellow.
?1780 Comical Sayings Pady from Cork 7
Faith, he was not such a big fool as die yet.
1791 R. Sadler Wanley Penson II. vii. 315
Well, I'm glad thee beest not hanged, faith!
Phrases
P1. With a preceding preposition.
a.
(a) (i)
by one's faith : on one's word of honour, truly; assuredly. Chiefly used parenthetically as an oath or to emphasize the truth of a statement, esp. in by my faith (also without by, as my faith). Now arch. [Compare classical Latin meā fide on my guarantee, tuā fide on your guarantee; Anglo-Norman par ma fei and Middle French par ma foi (see par ma fay int.), Middle French sur ma foi (a1440), and ma foi (see ma foi int., mafey int.). Compare earlier par ma fay int.]
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 275 (MED),
Now telle me, felawe, be þi feiȝþ..sei þou euer þemperour?
a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1911) i. 178 (MED),
He confirmyd thys conuencion to be holde ferme & sure by hys feythe & trowþe.
1477 Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 48
By your faith seme ye good that I ought to goo after him.
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epist. 3
By my faith, by my faith..this geare goeth hard with vs.
a1616 Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. i. 79
Now by my faith and honour.
1688 T. Brown Reasons Mr. Bays 17
This is a cutter, by my faith Mr. Bays, it lashes somewhere with a vengeance.
1798 S. T. Coleridge Anc. Marinere vii, in Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 45
Strange, by my faith! the Hermit said.
(a)(ii) Elaborated as by the faith of one's body (also love) . Nowrare and arch. [Compare Middle French par la foi de mon corps by the faith of my body (a1370).]
1421 in J. B. Paul Registrum Magni Sigilli Scotorum (1882) II. 30/1
The..lord and his..squyar ar oblist ilkane til other be the faythis of thair boiddis.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xcviijv,
Promisyng and behightyng, by the faith of his body.
a1616 Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. ii. 412
By the faith of my loue, I will.
a1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) iii. ii. 38,
I swear by the faith of my Body now It is a pretty thing.
(b) in faith, i'faith y'faith: in truth, really, truly. Freq. used parenthetically as an oath or to emphasize the truth of a statement. Cf. sense B., in good faith at good faith n., int., andadj. Phrases. Now arch. [Compare Old French en foi (late 12th cent.), Middle French en ma foi (a1400), both rare.]
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) l. 858
Fayn sche wold þan in feiþ haue fold him in hire armes.
c1475 (▸a1400) Sir Amadace (Taylor) in J. Robson Three Early Eng. Metrical Romances (1842) 31 Nedelonges most I sitte him by, Hi-fath, ther wille him non mon butte I.
a1547 J. Redford Moral Play Wit & Sci. (1848) 11
Do ye fle, ifayth?
1598 M. Drayton Englands Heroicall Epist. (new ed.) f. 52,
Ifaith her Queenship little rest should take.
1607 T. Middleton Revengers Trag. v. sig. I4v,
Yfaith, we're well.
(c) on (also upon) one's faith : on one's word of honour. Freq. used parenthetically as an oath or to emphasize the truth of a statement: truly, assuredly. Now arch. [In quot. 1523 after Middle French sur sa foi (14th cent. in the passage translated; French sur sa foi).]
c1405 (▸c1390) Chaucer Monk's Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 47
Vp on my feith, thow art som Officer.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xxiii. 75
On my feyth ye be well the man.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxi. 254
The kyng of England..trusted them on theyr faithes [Fr. sur leurs fois].
1602 T. Lodge tr. Josephus Wks. xx. ii. 516
Assuring them on his faith and oath, that he would obtaine a free pardon for all that which was past.
1759 D. Garrick Guardian ii. 41
She seem'd a little out of Humour,—And, upon my Faith, not the less beautiful for a little pouting.
1779 S. Dobson tr. J.-B. de la Curne de Sainte-Palaye Lit. Hist. Troubadors 128,
I should pass for a coward..to give up the portion my brother had resigned on his faith.
b. on the faith of: in reliance on the security of. [After French sur la foi de in reliance on the security of (a treaty, etc.) (1637 in the passage translated in quot. a1645; compare Middle French sur la foi de (of an oath) in reliance on the word of (a person)).]
a1645 W. Browne tr. M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) iii. iii. 100,
I give into their hands all regall authority, and on the faith of a solemne Treaty [Fr. sur la foy d'vn traité solemnel] open the gates of this fortresse.
1686 tr. J. Claude Acct. Persecutions Protestants in France 45
They live together in peace, on the Faith of Alliances, Treaties and Promises.
1770 I. Bickerstaff 'Tis Well it's no Worse v. i. 102,
I have delivered myself into your hands, Don Guzman, on the faith of your promise.
c. on faith: without evidence or investigation; on the authority of another person; on trust. Freq. in to take on faith : to believe or accept in this way; = to take on trust at trust n. 1c.
1822 T. C. Morgan Sketches Philos. Morals iii. 142
There is in moral science nothing more than in the other branches of philosophy; nothing mysterious, nothing to take on faith.
1866 Let. in E. Frame Twilight of Faith (1871) 10
When you tell your boy to give up the candy, because if he should eat it, he will be sick, and he obeys you, the child acts on faith.
1914 G. H. E. Hawkins Newspaper Advertising 57
The ‘blue sky’ days of advertising, when space was sold by personality and bought on faith, have passed.
1975 H. S. Thompson Let. 12 Oct. in Fear & Loathing in Amer. (2000) 664
The first time I get a chance to balance it out in some tangible way, I'll do it, which is something you'll just have to take on faith, for good or ill... Anyway, I owe you one.
1989 Mod. Lang. Jrnl. 73 494/2
The wisest course..would be to accept the case for polysyllabism on faith.
2005 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 10 July 16/3
I'm no historian, so I'll have to take it on faith that anyone not wearing tights would ever utter the statement, ‘Adieu until the morrow’.
P2.
With a verb.
a. In phrases relating to making, keeping, or breaking a promise, trust, oath, etc., as to keep (also †hold) (one's) faith ,to break (one's) faith , to plight (one's) faith , perjure one's faith . [Compare e.g. classical Latin fidem servāre, fidem tenēre, fidem retinēre to keep faith, fidem obligāre to plight faith, fidem frangere, fidem violāre to break faith, Anglo-Norman fiancer fei to pledge one's faith (1297 or earlier), plevir sa fei to pledge one's word (13th cent. or earlier), porter fei to keep faith, lit. ‘to carry faith’,prendre fei to accept someone's word (both late 12th cent.), mentir sa fei to break one's word or pledge (early 12th cent.).]
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 125 (MED),
Þe gentiles keped hir feiþ [L. fidem..servavere] to þe childe unto þe deienge of Robert.
?a1425 (▸c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 89
Non of hem holdeth feyth to another.
?c1425 (▸c1380) Chaucer Former Age (Cambr. Ii.3.21) (1878) l. 48
Euerych of hem his feith to oother kepte.
a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 3274
For glotonye he brake hys fayth.
?1483 Caxton tr. Caton i. sig. bj,
A man ought..to kepe hys feyth vnto his frendes.
1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin ix. 473
The better to make you serue for example of punishment to such as accursedly breake their faith to their soueraigne Prince.
c1592 Marlowe Jew of Malta ii. ii,
Faith is not to be held with heretics.
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 283
Berowne hath plighted Fayth to me.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 339
No Faith is to be held with such as differ from them.
1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals viii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 36,
I my Nisa's perjur'd Faith deplore.
1700 Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite 78
For you alone, I broke my Faith with injur'd Palamon.
1790 M. O. Warren Ladies of Castile iii. ii, in Poems 137
By St. Peter's key, I've sworn, nor will revoke my plighted faith.
b. to give (one's) faith to (also †unto) : to place trust in; to give credence to.
c1405 (▸c1390) Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) l. 607
God suffreth it for folk sholden yeue the moore feith and reuerence to his name.
1457 in A. Clark Lincoln Diocese Documents (1914) 97 (MED),
I haue bee present where suche articles and opinions haue bee taught..& yaf faith, credence and beleve to hem att diuers tymes.
1556 tr. J. de Flores Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. K4,
One oughte to geue more feithe vnto the secrete consentment of the soule, than [etc.].
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxxv. 140
Opinions..unto which they give so much faith.
1717 Pope Fable of Dryope in Wks. 278
If to the wretched any faith be giv'n.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. vii. 178
You believe..that I am willing to give faith to wonderful stories.
c. to keep the faith : to stay true or faithful to one's promises or convictions, or to the ideologies of a particular group or cause, esp. in testing circumstances; to remain loyal or steadfast. Freq. in imper. Cf. sense A. 6d.With allusion to 2 Timothy 4:7, ‘I haue fought a good fight, I haue finished my course, I haue kept the faith’ (King James Bible). Cf. to keep (also †hold) (one's) faithat Phrases 2a.
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P3.
Noun phrases.
age of faith n. (chiefly with the) (a name for) any period of history in which religion plays an important part, esp. the Middle Ages. Cf. the age of reason at reason n.1 Phrases 1d.
1679 N. Philips Holy Choice 20
Though we talk much in this Age of Faith, of Faith, and of our Dependance on Future good things, yet tis on Sight, on Sight and in the Enjoyment of the good things that are present, that all Felicity is Plac'd.
1795 Brit. Critic Apr. 427
If the present age be allowed to be, as it has been called, theage of reason, it cannot be the age of faith.
P4.
Other phrases.
a. contrary to faith and variants: not in accordance with religious doctrine; against the tenets of a faith (usu. Christianity).
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. ii. xvi. f. 99v,
They more hardly enforce this cauillation with sayeng, that I ascribe to the sonne of God desperation, whiche is contrarie to fayth [L. fidei contraria].
1647 Bp. J. Taylor Θεολογία Ἐκλεκτική xx. 252
Doctrines..such as are contrariant to Faith.
1753 Gentleman's Mag. May 236/2
The remonstrances of conscience are suppressed as contrary to faith.
b. O ye of little faith and variants: used to rebuke or chide someone who is mistrustful or sceptical of a person, idea, etc. Chiefly humorous in later use.With allusion to various passages in the New Testament (e.g. Matthew 16:8, Luke 12:28) in which Jesus exhorts his disciples to trust in God.
1762 London Evening Post 16
Nov. And can you, oh ye of little faith; suspect that a Prince with all these amiable qualities, will suffer himself to be cajoled..to sign an inglorious peace?
Compounds
C1.
General attrib.
faith-breach n. [compare post-classical Latin fidefragium (15th cent. in a British source); compare earlier faith-breakingn. and adj. at Compounds 2a and breach of faith at breach n.Additions]
1600 J. Golburne tr. C. de Valera Two Treat. i. 117
This faith-breach [Sp. este romper de fé], was cause of great bloodshed in the great warres which afterwards happened in Bohemia.
1726 A. Gavin Master-key to Popery (ed. 2) 108
The Romans say, no Faith is to be kept with Hereticks; and this Faith-Breach was the Occasion of great Blood-shed in the Wars.
faith definition n. now rare
1662 H. Holden Check 10
Make their acceptation the last and best Test of even a General Councils Infallibility in Faith-Definitions.
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 209
But he will finde no such fopperies in Faith-definitions made by the Catholick Church.
faith leader n.
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faith philosophy n.
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faith reformation n. rare
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 233
The..most refin'd quintessence of all Faith-Reformation.
faith tradition n.
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 43
A compleat and proper notion of Faith-Tradition.
C2.
a. Objective.
faith-breaker n. [compare post-classical Latin fidefragus,fidifragus (from 13th cent. in British sources)]
▸1440 Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 153 Feythe breke(r),..fidifragus.
a1649 W. Drummond Hist. James II in Wks. (1711) 30
They declare the King, and those that abode with him, Faith-breakers.
faith-breaking n. and adj.
1553 tr. S. Gardiner De Vera Obediencia: an Oration f. lviii,
What caste you him in the teth with faith breaking [L. fidei violationem]?
?1600 Earl of Essex Apologie sig. Div,
How easie it will be for a faith breaking enemie to confiscate all our countrimens goodes.
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis iii. vii. 174
The very instant of her faith-breaking.
1783 C. J. Fox Substance Speech E. India Bill 32,
To hear a Minister of this Country talk of fearing a war with that faith-breaking Nation.
faith-confirming adj.
1642 J. Vicars God in Mount 32
What faith-confirming and heart-cheering rich returns of prayers hath the Lord our good God cast into our blessed bosomes.
† faith-infringing adj. Obs.
1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie 24
A faith-infringing Polymnestor.
faith-keeping n. and adj.
c1485 (▸1456) G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 233
Than has he lak and dishonour, and j haue honour and worschip of faith keping.
1605 R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence viii. 253
This was..giuen..in recomendation of loyaltie or faith-keeping.
1661 R. Trail Traitors Claim 13
Drawing the guilt and disgrace of cruelty, revenge and perfidie on a Faith-keeping Prince and Parliament.
1720 M. Shelton Hist. & Crit. Ess. True Rise Nobility I. (new ed.) v. 341
In Recommendation of Loyalty or Faith-keeping.
faith-shaking adj.
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faith-straining adj.
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faith stretcher n.
1676 A. Marvell Gen. Councils in Wks. (1875) IV. 126
Those faith-stretchers..that put mens consciences upon the torture.
b. Instrumental and other compounds.
† faith-sown adj. Obs. rare.
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faith-starved adj.
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C3.
faith-based adj. chiefly U.S. (a) based on religious faith; (b)designating or relating to a charitable institution, social program, etc., created or managed by a religious organization.
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faith community n. (a) a community of people of the same religion; spec. a group of people leading a communal life according to their religious faith; (b) people with religious faith collectively.
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faith cure n. an instance of faith healing; a cure attributed to the power of faith.
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faith-curer n. = faith healer n.
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faith curist n. now rare. = faith healer n.
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Categories »
faith fire n. fig. faith imagined as a fire which produces light or heat, or which needs fuel or tending.
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faith group n. a group of people belonging to or representing a particular religious faith; the members of a particular faith considered collectively.
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faith healer n. a person who practises faith healing; cf. faith-curer n.
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faith healing n. healing attributed to the power of faith.
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faith ladder n. a model of a step-by-step process by which an individual comes to (religious) faith.The faith ladder is particularly associated with William James (1842-1910) whose description of the stages by which a person assents to faith was published posthumously in 1911.
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† faith-mark n. Obs. rare (a) an heirloom valued for its spiritual significance; (b) one of the main tenets of religion.
1652 W. Jenkyn Expos. Jude I. iii. 235
God forbid..that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. If the antient land-markes be not to be removed, much less the faith-markes.
† faith-press n. Obs. rare = inquisition n. 3. [After Dutch †geloof-pers , lit. ‘faith-oppression’ (1608 in the passage translated in quot. 1624).]
1624 T. Wood tr. W. Verheiden Oration 55
That most intolerable..thraldome of the Inquisition, or Faith-presse [Du. Gheloof-persse].
faith school n. now chiefly Brit. a school where teaching is given in accordance with the tenets of (a particular) religious faith; spec. a school especially for children of a particular religion.
NO CITATIONS BEFORE THE YEAR 1800
faith-state n. the state of having (religious) faith.
NO CITATIONS BEFORE THE YEAR 1800
faith value n. a quality, value, etc., deriving from or founded on faith; (also) value or worth with regard to faith.
NO CITATIONS BEFORE THE YEAR 1900
† faithworkful adj. Obs. rare (perh.) created as a work of faith.
1604 H. Broughton Aduert. Corrupt. Handling Relig. sig. M3,
Troupfull Gad was grauen in this faithworkfull stone.
Derivatives
faithwise adv. †(a) by means of faith; (b) with regard to faith.
NO CITATIONS BEFORE THE YEAR 1800
The citations in chronological order.
1300▸c Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2853 (MED), Hauelok... oþes swere, þat he sholden him god feyth bere.
1325a (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2187 Bi ðe feið ic og to king pharaon.
1325a (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2678 Ðat him sal feið wurðful ben boren.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 275 (MED), Now telle me, felawe, be þi feiȝþ..sei þou euer þemperour?
1375a William of Palerne (1867) l. 858 Fayn sche wold þan in feiþ haue fold him in hire armes.
1382▸a Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (1850) Prov. xi. 15 ... that doth feith [L. fidem facit] for a stranger.
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Tim. vi. 10 Sum men..erreden fro the feith, ...
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Rom. iii. 26 ...of the feith of Jhesu Crist.
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Royal) (1850) James ii. 17 Feith [L. fides], if it haue not werkes, ...
1387▸a R. Higden Polychron. (1879) VII. 125 (MED), Þe gentiles keped hir feiþ [L. fidem..servavere]...
1389 in T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 39 Þe feyth þat þei owen to god.
1390c (▸?c1350) Joseph of Arimathie (1871) l. 11 (MED), Ioseph..hedde I-turned to þe feyþ fifti with ...
1391▸c Gower Confessio Amantis (Huntington) vii. l. 3221* (MED), ‘Which is thi creance and thi feith?’...
1393▸a Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) i. l. 707 (MED),...which..Set upon him feith or credence.
1393▸a Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 2049 Thus he..feigneth under guile feith.
1393▸a Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 852 ... seith, That full of trouthe and full of feith Thei ben.
1393▸a Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) viii. l. 1520 Forto yive a more feith..In blake clothes thei ...
1400?a (▸a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt 511) ii. 333... Of Scotlond þe best were þan in his feith.
1400?c (▸c1380) Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. ) (1868) iii.pr. xii. l. 3002 ... hir feiþ and...
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21013 Iacob þe mar..þe land o spaigne in fait he fest.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3405 (MED), In drightin was his fayth ai fest.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6980 Þair faith lasted littel space,..þai..lefte þe lagh of hei drightin.
1400c (▸?c1384) Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 378 Freris perverten þo right feithe of þo sacrament ...
1400c (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §4. l. 36... my spirit ne hath no feith.
1405 c(▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 378 ... false feith to trowe in god allone.
1405 c(▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 538 ... the feith to teche.
1405 c(▸c1380) Chaucer Second Nun's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 64 Feith is deed with outen werkis.
1405c (▸c1390) Chaucer Monk's Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 47 Vp on my feith, thow art som Officer.
1405c (▸c1390) Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) l. 607 ... the moore feith and reuerence...
1405c (▸c1390) Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) l. 929 Man sholde bere hym to his wyf In feith...
1405c (▸c1395) Chaucer Summoner's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 431 Lo here my feith in me shal be no lak.
1421 in J. B. Paul Registrum Magni Sigilli Scotorum (1882) II. 30/1 ... be the faythis of thair boiddis.
1425?a (▸c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 11 ... ȝit þei varien from oure feith.
1425?a (▸c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 89 Non of hem holdeth feyth to another.
1425?c (▸c1380) Chaucer Former Age (Cambr. Ii.3.21) (1878) l. 48 Euerych of hem his feith ...
1425c Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 7541 (MED),... Made feith to hym and y-don homage.
1425c Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) iv. l. 2176 ...For feith nor oþe, but raþer mercyable.
1438▸a Bk. Margery Kempe i. 122 Þe clerkys examynde hir in þe Articles of þe Feyth.
1440▸ Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 153 Feythe breke(r),..fidifragus.
1443▸c R. Pecock Reule of Crysten Religioun (1987) 425 Feith is a knowingal vertu—...
1450a Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 9969 He toke feith of free and bond.
1450a Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 3274 For glotonye he brake hys fayth.
1450a Terms Assoc. in PMLA (1936) 51 604 (MED), A feyth of Marchantes.
1450a (▸?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (Caius) (1810) 4062 He is at the Sarezynes faith.
1450a (▸1369) Chaucer Bk. Duchess (Tanner 346) (1871) l. 632 Wiþ-oute feiþ lawe or mesure She is fals.
1456▸c R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 123 Othere feithis..mowe be geten bi ...
1456▸c R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 123 That feith..is thilke kinde or spice of knowyng, ...
1457 in A. Clark Lincoln Diocese Documents (1914) 97 (MED), ...bee taught..& yaf faith,...
1475a in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1911) i. 178 (MED),... ferme & sure by hys feythe & trowþe.
1475c (▸a1400) J. Robson Three Early Eng. Metrical Romances (1842) 31 ...Hi-fath, ther wille him ...
1477 Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 48 By your faith seme ye good that I ought to goo after him.
1483 Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. ccxxiij/1, Alle made fayth to other that [etc.].
1483? Caxton tr. Caton i. sig. bj, A man ought..to kepe hys feyth vnto his frendes.
1485 Caxton in tr. Thystorye & Lyf Charles the Grete Prol. sig. aij/1, The cristen feyth is...
1485c (▸1456) G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 233...and worschip of faith keping.
1490 Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxv. 538 Vpon the feyth that ye owe to me.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xxiii. 75 On my feyth ye be well the man.
1495 Trevisa's Barth. De Propr. Rerum xv. lxxxvii. sig. Hiijv/1,..... & fayth [a1398 BL Add. fey] of one god.
1500?c Conversion of St. Paul (Digby) l. 240 A very pynacle of the fayth.
1500a in J. Raine Vol. Eng. Misc. N. Counties Eng. (1890) 63 ...alonly hys faythe for hys tenementes.
1513a H. Bradshaw Lyfe St. Werburge (1521) i. xvi. sig. e.viii, Prechynge..The faythes of holy chyrche.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccxi. 254 T... on theyr faithes [Fr. sur leurs fois].
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xxiv. f. xiiiiv, To hym we owe to bere faith and trouth...
1526 Tyndale Prol. Moses in Wks. 7 Fayth, ..., which fayth iustified Abrah.
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes ii, in Wks. 179/1 The churche..muste..haue all one fayth.
1547a J. Redford Moral Play Wit & Sci. (1848) 11 Do ye fle, ifayth?
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. clxxxiijv, Emongest men of warre, faith or othe, syldome is perfourmed.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VI f. xcviijv, Promisyng and behightyng, by the faith of his body.
1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Aivv, Se that thy fayth be pitched On thy Lord God.
1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Piij, An historicall faith. As I do beleue that William Conqueror ...
1553 R. Eden tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India sig. Fiij, They haue no law written, and are of no faith.
1553 S. Gardiner De Vera Obed.: an Oration f. lviii, ... in the teth with faith breaking [L. fidei violationem]?
1555 Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde Pref. sig. aijv, The Indians subdued to the fayth.
1556 t Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. G3, The manney folde paines..makethe cleare feithe ...
1556 tr. J. de Flores Histoire de Aurelio & Isabelle sig. K4, One oughte to geue more feithe vnto...
1556a N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. ii. sig. Biv, Faith sir, and I nere had more nede of ...
1558 Bp. T. Watson Holsome Doctr. Seuen Sacramentes xxviii. f. clxxiiii, ... my faythe and truthe...
1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. ii. xvi. f. 99v, ... is contrarie to fayth [L. fidei contraria].
1565 tr. Origen Homilie of Marye Magdalene sig. D.viiv, I do beleue and this is my faith, that God...
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 78 Vntill he were returned unto his fayth.
1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin ix. 473 ... breake their faith to their soueraigne Prince.
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 375 Faith..maketh God & man friends.
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 807 Faith was made to them, that..they should come safe.
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epist. 3 By my faith, by my faith..this geare ...
1592 A. Day Eng. Secretorie ii. sig. H2v, Faith Sir..tis but as the wiser sort doe hold opinion.
1592c Marlowe Jew of Malta ii. ii, Faith is not to be held with heretics.
1596 L. Keymis Relation 2nd Voy. Guiana sig. G2v, He reposed himselfe more on the faith of his ...
1598 M. Drayton Englands Heroicall Epist. (new ed.) f. 52, Ifaith her Queenship little rest should take.
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 283 Berowne hath plighted Fayth to me.
1598 J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. i. 2/1.... oathes of faith and allegiance ...
1600 J. Golburne tr. C. de Valera Two Treat. i. 117 This faith-breach [Sp. este romper de fé], was...
1600 Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 127 Bearing the badge of faith to prooue them true.
1600 Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 71 He weares his faith but as the fashion of his hat.
1600 ? Earl of Essex Apologie sig. Div, How easie it will be for a faith breaking enemie to confiscate...
1602 T. Lodge tr. Josephus Wks. xx. ii. 516 Assuring them on his faith and oath,...
1604 H. Broughton Aduert. Corrupt. Handling Relig. sig. M3, ... in this faithworkfull stone.
1605 B. Jonson Sejanus iii. sig. G, Great Titus Livius, great for eloquence, And fayth [1616 faith], ...
1605 R. Verstegan Restit. Decayed Intelligence viii. 253 ...of loyaltie or faith-keeping.
1607 T. Middleton Revengers Trag. v. sig. I4v, Yfaith, we're well.
1608 Shakespeare King Lear xxi. 68 Be your teares wet, yes faith, I pray weep not.
1611 M. Smith in Bible (King James) Transl. Pref. 3 A manifest falling away from the Faith.
1616a Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. i. 79 Now by my faith and honour.
1616a Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. ii. 412 By the faith of my loue, I will.
1621 R. Brathwait Natures Embassie 24 A faith-infringing Polymnestor.
1624 T. Wood tr. W. Verheiden Oration 55 ... of the Inquisition, or Faith-presse [Du. Gheloof-persse].
1625 K. Long tr. J. Barclay Argenis iii. vii. 174 The very instant of her faith-breaking.
1628a J. Preston Breast-plate of Faith (1630) 15 Faith is..assenting to Truthes for the ...
1634 J. Ford Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck ii. iii. sig. E, Cease perswasions, I violate no pawnes of faythes, ...
1635 E. Pagitt Christianographie (1636) i. iii. 108 The Gospel conteineth intirely the faith.
1638 A. Cowley Loves Riddle i. i. sig. A6v, 'Faith, I am very chary of my health.
1638a J. Mede Epist. to Estwick in Wks. (1672) iv. 836 S. Jerom is a man of no faith with me.
1642 J. Vicars God in Mount 32 What faith-confirming and heart-cheering rich returns of ...
1643a W. Cartwright Ordinary (1651) iii. ii. 38, I swear by the faith of my Body now It is a pretty thing.
1645a M. Le Roy Hist. Polexander (1647) iii. iii. 100, ... the faith of a solemne Treaty [Fr. sur la foy d'vn traité solemnel] ...
1647 Bp. J. Taylor Θεολογία Ἐκλεκτική xx. 252 Doctrines..such as are contrariant to Faith.
1649 J. Evelyn Let. 26 Mar. in Diary & Corr. (1859) III. 40 Persons of great faith to his Majesty's cause.
1649a W. Drummond Hist. James II in Wks. (1711) 30 They declare the King...Faith-breakers.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iii. xlii. 271 Faith is a gift of God, which Man can neither give, nor take away.
1652 W. Jenkyn Expos. Jude I. iii. 235 ... much less the faith-markes.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxxv. 140 Opinions..unto which they give so much faith.
1654 Bp. J. Taylor Real Presence xii. 27 An excellent MS. that makes faith in this particular.
1659 A. Burgess Script. Directory 128 This is a meer political faith. Many men have no ...
1659 W. Goodsonn Let. 6 Mar. in T. Birch Coll. State Papers J. Thurloe (1742) VII. 628 And faith,...
1661 R. Trail Traitors Claim 13 ... of cruelty, revenge and perfidie on a Faith-...
1662 H. Holden Check 10 ... even a General Councils Infallibility in Faith-Definitions.
1663 tr. G. Biondi Penitent Bandito sig. D6v, Father, I give you my faith, that I do not, at all,...
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 209 But he will finde no such fopperies in Faith-definitions made ...
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 233 The..most refin'd quintessence of all Faith-Reformation.
1665 J. Sergeant Sure Footing 43 A compleat and proper notion of Faith-Tradition.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 339 No Faith is to be held with such as differ from them.
1668 M. Casaubon Of Credulity & Incred. (1670) 111 ...to make faith or evidence of his Deity.
1671 Milton Samson Agonistes 986 ..., chose Above the faith of wedlock-bands.
1676 A. Marvell Gen. Councils in Wks. (1875) IV. 126 Those faith-stretchers..that put mens ...
1679 N. Philips Holy Choice 20 ... this Age of Faith, of Faith, ...our Dependance on Future good things,...
1680 C. Blount Great is Diana 29 This was the Heathen Faith; for although they did not own themselves ...
1680 T. Otway Orphan ii. 21 Attempt no farther to delude my Faith.
1680 W. Rogers 1st Pt. Christian-Quaker iv. 24 Others held forth the Visible Orders, and Written Faiths ...
1686 tr. J. Claude Acct. Persecutions Protestants in France 45 They live together in peace, on the Faith ...
1688 T. Brown Reasons Mr. Bays 17 This is a cutter, by my faith Mr. Bays, it lashes somewhere ...
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. xviii. 348 Faith..is the Assent to any Proposition...
1694 tr. Lett. Turkish Spy VIII. iv. iv. 253 This is my Faith. That there are Paradises of all Sorts and ...
1696 J. Sergeant Method to Sci. iii. viii. 328 Faith or Belief (speaking of Human Faith to ...
1697 Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals viii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 36, I my Nisa's perjur'd Faith deplore.
1697 M. Tindal Ess. Concerning Power of Magistrate ii. iii. 91 ... a Medicine he has no Faith in.
1700 Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite 78 For you alone, I broke my Faith with injur'd Palamon.
1702 C. Brent Ess. Nature Guilt & Lying ii. 120 ... their violations of Military Faith and Honour.
1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi i. v. 21 ...utterly subverting the Faith in the important Points.
1708 W. Crouch Sin of Covetousness ix. 81 ...many Ages and Generations, have gained Faith and Credit)...
1709 Tatler No. 110. ⁋4 Faith Isaac..thou art a very unaccountable old Fellow.
1711 Swift in Examiner 26 Apr. ... to be exactly of the same Political Faith.
1717 Pope Fable of Dryope in Wks. 278 If to the wretched any faith be giv'n.
1720 M. Shelton Hist. & Crit. Ess. True Rise Nobility I. (new ed.) v. 341 ...f Loyalty or Faith-keeping.
1721 E. Young Revenge iii. i. 32 O sacred Faith! How dearly I abide thy Violation!
1722 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. II. i. 13 Doctor Oats had made Faith that several ...
1725 I. Watts Logick ii. ii. §9 ..., it is called the Evidence of Faith.
1726 A. Gavin Master-key to Popery (ed. 2) 108 The Romans say, no Faith ... Faith-Breach ...
1730 A. Gordon tr. F. S. Maffei Compl. Hist. Anc. Amphitheatres 375 Relying on the Faith of Books.
1736 A. Hill Zara i. i. 5 That Cross, ..., a Pledge of Faith.
1741 C. Middleton tr. Cicero in Hist. Life Cicero I. vi. 492, ..., into your's, illustrious for victory and faith.
1744 Swift Serm. Trinity 52 Faith is an entire Dependence upon the Truth...
1748 J. A. Eisenmenger Rabinical Lit. (new ed.) II. App. 227 ...and the Faith of the Jews have always stood.
1753 Gentleman's Mag. May 236/2 The remonstrances of conscience are suppressed as contrary to faith.
1756 T. Amory Life John Buncle I. xxvi. 128 ... and to have a faith in God's power and all-sufficiency.
1759 D. Garrick Guardian ii. 41 ...And, upon my Faith, not the less beautiful for a little pouting.
1762 London Evening Post 16 Nov. And can you, oh ye of little faith; suspect that a Prince with ...
1764 H. Walpole Let. 11 Jan. in Corr. with G. Montagu (1941) II. 117 .,..Defender of the sylphic faith.
1770 I. Bickerstaff 'Tis Well it's no Worse v. i. 102, ... Don Guzman, on the faith of your promise.
1770a J. Jortin Serm. (1774) I. ii. 30 When..the inward light waxes dim, the faith is gone.
1774a A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. ii. 226 Such a one has great faith in Ward's pills.
1777 J. Richardson Dict. Persian, Arabic & Eng. I. Dissert. 24/2 An open scoffer at the Moslem faith.
1779 J.-B. de la Curne de Sainte-Palaye Lit. Hist. Troubadors 128, ... my brother had resigned on his faith.
1780 ? Comical Sayings Pady from Cork 7 Faith, he was not such a big fool as die yet.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall II. 129 The two princes mutually engaged their faith never to...
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 111 Faith, the root whence only can arise The graces of a life ...
1783 C. J. Fox Substance Speech E. India Bill 32, ... fearing a war with that faith-breaking Nation.
1786 R. Burns Let. 9 July in Wks. (1834) VII. 2 One of the servant girls made faith that ...
1787 J. Reeves Hist. Eng. Law (ed. 2) I. vii. 406 In common cases..the essoniator gave his faith, ...
1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 124, I never, a' my days, Had meikle faith in spaemen, or their says.
1790 M. O. Warren Ladies of Castile iii. ii, in Poems 137 By St. Peter's key,.. my plighted faith.
1791 R. Sadler Wanley Penson II. vii. 315 Well, I'm glad thee beest not hanged, faith!
1793 S. T. Coleridge Lett. (1895) 50 ... converted many souls to the Foxite faith.
1794 E. Swedenborg Delights of Wisdom conc. Conjugial Love 36 ... they would take away all faith ....
1795 Brit. Critic Apr. 427 ... as it has been called, theage of reason, it cannot be the age of faith.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian I. vii. 178 You believe..that I am willing to give faith to wonderful stories.
1798 Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge Lyrical Ballads 45 Strange, by my faith! the Hermit said.