beleefe

English

Noun

beleefe (countable and uncountable, plural beleefes)

1. Obsolete form of belief.
   • 1581, Iohn Marbeck [i.e., John Merbecke], A Booke of Notes and Common Places, […], London: Thomas East, page 993:

     And they wenten out to the Paynims, ſhewing to them that their Images were no Gods, but mens woꝛkes vnmightie to ſaue themſelues oꝛ any other, dꝛawing them to the beleefe of Jeſus Chꝛiſt, God ⁊ man.

   • 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v], page 396, column 2:

     […] I return'd with ſimular proofe enough, / To make the Noble Leonatus mad, / By wounding his beleefe in her Renowne, / With tokens thus, and thus: auerring notes / Of Chamber-hanging, Pictures, this her Bracelet / (Oh cunning how I got) nay ſome markes / Of ſecret on her perſon, that he could not / But thinke her bond of Chaſtity quite crack'd, / I hauing tane the forfeyt.

   • 1617, Zacharias Ursinus, “Quest. 56. What Belieuest Thou Concerning Remission of Sinnes?”, in Henrie Parrie [i.e., Henry Parry], David Pareus, transl., The Svmme of Christian Religion, Deliuered by Zacharias Vrsinvs in His Lectures vpon the Catechisme, […] Translated into English […], London: Imprinted by H. L. and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson, […], →OCLC, section 6 (To Whom Remission of Sinnes is Giuen), page 614:

     Remiſsion of ſins is giuen to all the elect, and them alone, becauſe it is giuen to them all and alone who beleeue; and none beleeue, but the elect onely; for the reprobate neuer haue true faith and beleefe: therefore they neuer obtaine remiſsion of their ſinnes.