[a. F. certitude certainty, objective or subjective f. late L. certitūdinem (in S. Gregory, Boethius, etc.), f. L. cert-us certain.]
1. Subjective certainty; the state of being certain or sure of anything; assured conviction of the mind that the facts are so and so; absence of doubt or hesitation; assurance, confidence. (There has been a growing tendency since the time of Hobbes to restrict the word to this sense; which, though not etymologically founded, is practically useful.)
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 183. Whiche childer … not knowenge their faders in certitude.
1554. Knox, Godly Let., A iij. You wolde knowe the tyme, and what certitude I haue here off.
1656. Hobbes, Liberty, Necess. & Ch. (1841), 247. An infallible certitude of the understanding in that which it knows to be, or that it shall be.
1699. Phil. Trans., XXI. 359. Moral Certitude Absolute, is that in which the Mind of Man entirely acquiesces, requiring no further Assurance.
1727. Chambers, Cycl., Certitude, is properly a quality of the judgment, importing an adhesion of the mind to the proposition we affirm, or the strength wherewith we adhere to it.
1864. J. H. Newman, Apol., 80. My argument is … that certitude was a habit of mind, that certainty was a quality of propositions.
1880. E. White, Cert. Relig., 3. The Evangelist distinguishes between what we now term certitude—or the belief of the mind—and certainty, or the solid reality of the fact or truths believed in.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. II. v. 213. The truths of faith must be held with absolute certitude.
b. A feeling of certainty in a particular case; the opposite of a doubt. With a and pl.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. ix. § 89. To sound the truth of the Electors and Peoples affections, which they found entire, and with that certitude returne.
1617. Donne, Serm., cxxxviii. V. 476. Delude themselves with imaginary Certitudes of Salvation.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), III. 4. Heaven … wher Desires turn to Fruition, Doubts to Certitudes.
2. Objective certainty. ? Obs.
1538. Bale, God’s Promises, in Dodsley (1780), I. 9. They come that thereof wyll shewe the certytude.
c. 1540. Pilgr. Tale, 50, in Thynne’s Animadv. (1865), App. i. For a-mongst an hundreth—this is of certitude.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 180/2. Science … hath Certitude and Stability as being conversant in things certain and stable.
1790. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 110. It will be very long before political subjects will be reduced to geometric certitude.
1856. P. E. Dove, Logic Chr. Faith, Introd. 3. We have evidence of the utmost conceivable certitude.
† b. Fixedness, permanency; invariableness. Obs.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), Mm vj b. Thou sawest neuer certitude in the loue of a woman.
1605. Camden, Rem., 37. That there is an Orthotes or certitude of names among all Nations.
c. Sureness of action, execution or event; unfailing quality.
1597. Lowe, Chirurg. (1634), 139. The excellency of it [the eye] is knowne in the certitude of the actions.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 375. That certitude which it hath in effecting any thing.
1662. Evelyn, Chalcogr., 118. A method, how by a constant, and regular certitude, one may express to the eye, [etc.].
1877. Amelia B. Edwards, Up Nile, iv. 91. The most difficult and transitory movements are expressed with masterly certitude.
1886. Swinburne, in Athenæum, 10 July, 49/1. Trust in the certitude of compensatory justice.
