doubt: [13] English acquired the verb doubt from Old French doter or duter, a descendant of Latin dubitāre ‘waver, be uncertain’ (the b was reintroduced from the Latin spelling in the 15th century). Dubitāre was closely related to Latin dubius ‘uncertain’ (ultimate source of English dubious [16]), which appears to have been based on duo ‘two’, and thus to have meant originally ‘wavering between two possibilities’. In Old French, the sense ‘fear’ developed, and this was an important meaning of the word in Middle English; it survives in the derivative redoubtable [14], literally ‘fearable’. => dubious, redoubtable
doubt (v.)
early 13c., "to dread, fear," from Old French doter "doubt, be doubtful; be afraid," from Latin dubitare "to doubt, question, hesitate, waver in opinion" (related to dubius "uncertain;" see dubious), originally "to have to choose between two things."
The sense of "fear" developed in Old French and was passed on to English. Meaning "to be uncertain" is attested in English from c. 1300. The -b- was restored 14c. by scribes in imitation of Latin. Replaced Old English tweogan (noun twynung), from tweon "two," on notion of "of two minds" or the choice of two implied in Latin dubitare (compare German Zweifel "doubt," from zwei "two").
doubt (n.)
early 13c., from Old French dote (11c.) "fear, dread; doubt," from doter (see doubt (v.)).
实用例句
1. There can be little doubt that he will offend again.
毋庸置疑他还会再犯的。
来自柯林斯例句
2. They have the usual quota of human weaknesses, no doubt.
毫无疑问，他们身上也有人所共有的弱点。
来自柯林斯例句
3. This new information does throw doubt on their choice.
这个新信息确实使人们对他们的选择产生了怀疑。
来自柯林斯例句
4. There was no doubt in his mind that the man was serious.
