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excellent question , Its a jr goal of the goal to not know. : ) excellent question
doubt (dout) *v.* *doubt·ed*, *doubt·ing*, *doubts* *v.**tr.* *1. * To be undecided or skeptical about: began to doubt some accepted doctrines. *2. * To tend to disbelieve; distrust: doubts politicians when they make sweeping statements. *3. * To regard as unlikely: I doubt that we'll arrive on time. *4. * *Archaic* To suspect; fear. *v.**intr.* To be undecided or skeptical. *n.* *1. * A lack of certainty that often leads to irresolution. See Synonyms at uncertainty <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/uncertainty>. *2. * A lack of trust. *3. * A point about which one is uncertain or skeptical: reassured me by answering my doubts. *4. * The condition of being unsettled or unresolved: an outcome still in doubt. *Idioms: * *beyond**/without* *doubt* Without question; certainly; definitely. *no doubt* *1. * Certainly. *2. * Probably. ------------------------------ [Middle English douten, from Old French douter, from Latin dubitre, *to waver*; see dwo- in Indo-European roots.] ------------------------------ *doubter** n.* *Usage Note: * *Doubt* and *doubtful* may be followed by clauses introduced by *that, whether,* or *if.* The choice among these three is partly guided by the intended meaning of the sentence but is not cast in stone. *Whether*normally introduces an indirect question and is therefore the traditional choice when the subject is in a state of genuine uncertainty about alternative possibilities: *Sue has studied so much philosophy this year that she has begun to doubt whether she exists.* Similarly, when *doubtful*indicates uncertainty, *whether* is probably the correct choice: *At one time it was doubtful whether the company could recover from its financial difficulties, but the bank loan has helped.* On the other hand, *that* is the choice when one uses *doubt* as an understated way of expressing disbelief: *I doubt that we have seen the last of that problem,* meaning "I think we haven't seen the last of that problem." *That* is also the usual choice when the truth of the clause following *doubt* is assumed, as in negative sentences and questions. Thus *I never doubted for a minute that I would be rescued*implies "I was certain that I would be rescued." By the same token, *Do you doubt that you will be paid?* seems to pose a rhetorical question ("Surely you believe that you will be paid"), whereas *Do you doubt whether you will be paid?* may express a genuine request for information and might be followed by *because if you do, you should make the client post a bond.*In other cases, however, this distinction between *whether* and *that* is not always observed. *If* may also be used as a substitute for *whether* but is more informal in tone. · In informal speech the clause following *doubt* is sometimes introduced with *but: I don't doubt but* (or *but what*) *he will come.* Although modern critics sometimes object to its use in formal writing, reputable precedent exists for this construction, as Richard Steele's remark *"I do not doubt but England is at present as polite a Nation as any in the World."* See Usage Notes at but <http://www.thefreedictionary.com/but>, if<http://www.thefreedictionary.com/if> . The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company <http://www.eref-trade.hmco.com/>. All rights reserved. ------------------------------ doubt [daʊt] *n* *1.* uncertainty about the truth, fact, or existence of something (esp in the phrases *in doubt, without doubt, beyond a shadow of doubt,* etc.) *2.* *(often plural)* lack of belief in or conviction about something all his doubts about the project disappeared *3.* an unresolved difficulty, point, etc. *4.* (Philosophy) *Philosophy* the methodical device, esp in the philosophy of Descartes, of identifying certain knowledge as the residue after rejecting any proposition which might, however improbably, be false *5.* *Obsolete* fear *give (someone) the benefit of the doubt* to presume (someone suspected of guilt) innocent; judge leniently *no doubt* almost certainly *vb* *1.* *(tr; may take a clause as object)* to be inclined to disbelieve I doubt we are late *2.* *(tr)* to distrust or be suspicious of he doubted their motives *3.* *(intr)* to feel uncertainty or be undecided *4.* *(tr; may take a clause as object)* *Scot* to be inclined to believe *5.* *(tr)* *Archaic* to fear *I wouldn't doubt (someone)* *Irish* I would expect nothing else from (someone) [from Old French *douter,* from Latin *dubitāre*] *doubtable* *adj* *doubtably* *adv* *doubter* *n* *doubtingly* *adv*
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