Belief

Conviction of the mind, arising not from actual perception or knowledge, but by way of inference, or from evidence received or information derived from others. It differs from "knowledge" only in degree.

9 Gray (Mass.) 274.

It is said to be a stronger word than "imagination." (4 Ga. 37), or "suspicion" (5 Cush. [Mass.] 374), but has been held to be substantially synonymous with "supposition" (102 111. 277). Belief may evidently be stronger or weaker, according to the weight of evidence adduced in favor of the proposition to which belief is granted or refused, and so "firm belief" in a statute means more than "belief."

4 Serg. & R. (Pa.) 137; 1 Greenl. Ev. §§ 7-13. See 1 Starkie, Ev. 41; 2 W. Bl. 881; 8 Watts (Pa.) 406.