BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY 6th EDITION
BELIEF: a conviction of the truth as a proposition, existing subjectively in the mind,
and induce by argument, persuasion, or proof addressed to the judgment. Latrobe v. J. H. Cross Co., D.C. Pa., F.2d 210, 212. A conclusion arrived at from external source after weighing probability. 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.
Knowledge is an assurance of a fact or
proposition founded on proposition by the senses or institution; while “belief” is an assurance gained by evidence, and from other persons. “Suspicion” is weaker than “belief,” since suspicion requires no real foundation for its existence, while “belief” is necessarily based on at least assumed facts. Cook, V. Singer Sewing Mach. Co., 138 Cal. App. 418, 32 P.2d 430, 431.
GOOD FAITH: good faith is an intangible and abstract quality, with no technical meaning or statutory definition, and it encompasses, among other things, an honest belief, the absence of malice and the absence of design to defraud or to seek an unconscionable advantage, and an individual’s personal good faith is concept of his own mind and in your spirit, and, therefore, may not conclusively be determined by his
protestation alone. Doyle v. Gordon, 158 N.Y.S.2d 248, 259, 260. Honesty of intention, and freedom from knowledge of circumstances which are to be put the holder upon inquiry. An honest intention to abstain from taking any unconscientious advantage of another, even through technicalities of law, together with absence of all information, notice, or belief of facts which render transaction unconscientious. In common usage this term is ordinarily used, to describe that state of mind denoting
honesty of purpose, freedom from intentions to defraud, and, generally speaking, means being faithful to one’s duty or obligation. Efron v. Kalmanovitz, 249 Cal.App. 187, 57 Cal.Rptr. 248, 251.
Commercial law. Honesty in fact, in the conduct or transaction concerned. UCC §1 – 201 (19). In the case of a merchant, honesty, in fact and the observance of
reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing in the trade. UCC §2-103 (1) (b).
REASONABLE BELIEF. Reasonable belief or probable cause to make arrest without a warrant exists when facts and circumstances within arresting officer’s knowledge, and of which he had reasonably trustworthy information, are sufficient in themselves
to justify a man of average caution and belief that a fountain he has been or is being committed.
The words “reasonably believes” are used throughout the Reinstatement, Second, Torts to denote the fact that the actor believes that a given fact or combination of facts exists, and that there circumstances which he knows, or should know, our such as cause a reasonable man, so to
believe.