Found 1 items, similar to Act of faith.
English → English (gcide) Definition: Act of faith Act \Act\ ([a^]kt), n. [L. actus, fr. agere to drive, do: cf. F. acte. See Agent.] 1. That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed. [1913 Webster] That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster] Hence, in specific uses: (a) The result of public deliberation; the decision or determination of a legislative body, council, court of justice, etc.; a decree, edit, law, judgment, resolve, award; as, an act of Parliament, or of Congress. (b) A formal solemn writing, expressing that something has been done. --Abbott. (c) A performance of part of a play; one of the principal divisions of a play or dramatic work in which a certain definite part of the action is completed. (d) A thesis maintained in public, in some English universities, by a candidate for a degree, or to show the proficiency of a student. [1913 Webster] 2. A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a possibility or possible existence. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in possibility, what they afterward grow to be. --Hooker. [1913 Webster] 3. Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the point of (doing). “In act to shoot.” --Dryden. [1913 Webster] This woman was taken . . . in the very act. --John viii. 4. [1913 Webster] Act of attainder. (Law) See Attainder. Act of bankruptcy (Law), an act of a debtor which renders him liable to be adjudged a bankrupt. Act of faith. (Ch. Hist.) See Auto-da-F['e]. Act of God (Law), an inevitable accident; such extraordinary interruption of the usual course of events as is not to be looked for in advance, and against which ordinary prudence could not guard. Act of grace, an expression often used to designate an act declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at the beginning of a new reign. Act of indemnity, a statute passed for the protection of those who have committed some illegal act subjecting them to penalties. --Abbott. Act in pais, a thing done out of court (anciently, in the country), and not a matter of record. [1913 Webster] Syn: See Action. [1913 Webster] Faith \Faith\ (f[=a]th), n. [OE. feith, fayth, fay, OF. feid, feit, fei, F. foi, fr. L. fides; akin to fidere to trust, Gr. pei`qein to persuade. The ending th is perhaps due to the influence of such words as truth, health, wealth. See Bid, Bide, and cf. Confide, Defy, Fealty.] 1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting solely and implicitly on his authority and veracity; reliance on testimony. [1913 Webster] 2. The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he utters; firm and earnest belief, on probable evidence of any kind, especially in regard to important moral truth. [1913 Webster] Faith, that is, fidelity, -- the fealty of the finite will and understanding to the reason. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster] 3. (Judeo-Christian Theol.) (a) The belief in the historic truthfulness of the Scripture narrative, and the supernatural origin of its teachings, sometimes called historical and speculative faith. (b) (Christian Theol.) The belief in the facts and truth of the Scriptures, with a practical love of them; especially, that confiding and affectionate belief in the person and work of Christ, which affects the character and life, and makes a man a true Christian, -- called a practical, evangelical, or saving faith. [1913 Webster] Without faith it is impossible to please him [God]. --Heb. xi. 6. [1913 Webster] The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind which is called “trust” or “confidence” exercised toward the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior. --Dr. T. Dwight. [1913 Webster] Faith is an affectionate, practical confidence in the testimony of God. --J. Hawes. [1913 Webster] 4. That which is believed on any subject, whether in science, politics, or religion; especially (Theol.), a system of religious belief of any kind; as, the Jewish or Mohammedan faith; the Christian faith; also, the creed or belief of a Christian society or church. [1913 Webster +PJC] Which to believe of her, Must be a faith that reason without miracle Could never plant in me. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. --Gal. i. 23. [1913 Webster] 5. Fidelity to one's promises, or allegiance to duty, or to a person honored and beloved; loyalty. [1913 Webster] Children in whom is no faith. --Deut. xxvii. 20. [1913 Webster] Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, I should conceal. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 6. Word or honor pledged; promise given; fidelity; as, he violated his faith. [1913 Webster] For you alone I broke me faith with injured Palamon. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 7. Credibility or truth. [R.] [1913 Webster] The faith of the foregoing narrative. --Mitford. [1913 Webster] Act of faith. See Auto-da-f['e]. Breach of faith, Confession of faith, etc. See under Breach, Confession, etc. Faith cure, a method or practice of treating diseases by prayer and the exercise of faith in God. In good faith, with perfect sincerity. [1913 Webster]