Certainty & Conviction Vocabulary

a firmly held belief or opinion

“She spoke with the conviction of someone who had seen the truth firsthand.”

Origin: Latin convincere `to overcome, prove wrong` (com- `with` + vincere `to conquer`)

absolute certainty or conviction

“He expressed his views with unshakeable certitude.”

Origin: Latin certitudo `certainty` (from certus `certain, sure`)

confidence or certainty in one's own abilities

“She handled the crisis with remarkable assurance.”

Origin: Old French asseurance (from assurer `to assure`, from Latin ad- `to` + securus `secure`)

a principle or set of principles laid down as unquestionably true

“Scientific inquiry challenges religious dogma.”

Origin: Greek dogma `opinion, belief` (from dokein `to seem good, think`)

a principle or belief held as true by a group

“The central tenet of democracy is popular sovereignty.”

Origin: Latin tenet `he holds` (from tenere `to hold`)

a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a group

“The doctrine of separation of powers guides constitutional design.”

Origin: Latin doctrina `teaching, learning` (from doctor `teacher`, from docere `to teach`)

a statement regarded as self-evidently true

“It's an axiom of economics that people respond to incentives.”

Origin: Greek axioma `what is thought fitting` (from axios `worthy`)

a collection of sacred or accepted works; a general rule

“These principles form the canon of professional ethics.”

Origin: Greek kanon `rule, measuring rod` (possibly from Semitic qaneh `reed`)

a system of beliefs or principles

“His personal creed emphasized honesty above all.”

Origin: Latin credo `I believe` (from credere `to believe, trust`)

authorized or generally accepted beliefs or practices

“The new theory challenged scientific orthodoxy.”

Origin: Greek orthodoxia `right opinion` (orthos `right, correct` + doxa `opinion`)