Past tense of believe; accepted as true or real without absolute proof. Held a conviction or faith about something.
From Old English 'gelefan' meaning to have faith in, related to Germanic roots meaning 'to hold dear' or 'to love'. The connection between belief and emotional attachment remains strong.
Belief is neurologically fascinating - brain scans show that strongly held beliefs activate the same neural pathways as physical pain when challenged, explaining why changing someone's mind can literally hurt. The word's etymology linking belief to love reveals why facts alone rarely change deeply held convictions.
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