From Middle English beleven, bileven, from Old English belīefan, from Proto-West Germanic *bilaubijan, equivalent to be- + leave. Cognate with Scots beleve, Middle Low German belö̂ven, Middle High German belouben.
. Related also to North Frisian leauwjen ("to believe"), West Frisian leauwe ("to believe"), Dutch geloven ("to believe"), German glauben ("to believe"), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌿𐌱𐌾𐌰𐌽 ("to hold dear, valuable, or satisfactory, approve of, believe").
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