different between understanding vs believing

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?nd??stand??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??nd??stænd??/
• Rhymes: -ænd??
• Hyphenation: un?der?stand?ing

Noun

understanding (countable and uncountable, plural understandings) (with of, but with for in sense of "sympathy")

1. (gerund, uncountable) The act of one that understands or comprehends; comprehension; knowledge; discernment.
2. (countable) Reason or intelligence, ability to grasp the full meaning of knowledge, ability to infer.
3. (countable) Opinion, judgement or outlook.

4. (countable) An agreement of minds; harmony; something mutually understood or agreed upon.
   1. An informal contract; mutual agreement.

   2. A reconciliation of differences.

5. (uncountable) Sympathy.

Derived terms

• peace that passeth understanding

Translations

See also

• intellection

Adjective

understanding (comparative more understanding, superlative most understanding)

1. Showing compassion.
2. (dated) Knowing; skilful.

Translations

Verb

understanding

1. present participle of understand

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English bilevyng, belevand, bileveand, belefand, from Old English *bel?fende, ?el?fende, ?el?fende. Equivalent to believe +? -ing.

Verb

believing

1. present participle of believe

Etymology 2

From Middle English bilevinge, belewynge, equivalent to believe +? -ing.

Noun

believing (countable and uncountable, plural believings)

1. The act or process of having faith, trust, or confidence in.
2. Belief.
   • 2004, Dermot Moran, Lester E. Embree, Phenomenology: Critical Concepts in Philosophy (volume 2, page 337)

     Some believings are believings with simple certainty; others are more or less uncertain; still others are believings with a reassured certainty, perhaps after a time during which they were uncertain.