πίστις
Alt. πίστις, ιος, ἡ,
Etym. πείθομαι
I. "trust" in others, "faith", Lat. fides, fiducia, Hes., Theogn., attic; c. gen. pers. "faith or belief in" one, Eur.:— generally, "persuasion" of a thing, "confidence, assurance", Pind., attic
2. "good faith, trustworthiness, faithfulness, honesty", Lat. fides, Theogn., Hdt., attic
3. in a commercial sense, "credit, trust", πίστις τοσούτων χρημάτων ἐστί μοι παρά τινι I have "credit" for so much money with him, Dem.; εἰς πίστιν διδόναι τί τινι id=Dem.
4. in Theol. "faith, belief", as opp. to sight and knowledge, NTest.
II. "that which gives confidence": hence,
1. "an assurance, pledge of good faith, warrant, guarantee", Soph., Eur.; πίστιν καὶ ὅρκια ποιεῖσθαι to make a treaty by exchange of "assurances" and oaths, Hdt.; οὔτε π. οὔθ᾽ ὅρκος μένει Ar.; πίστιν διδόναι to give "assurances", Hdt.; διδόναι καὶ λαμβάνειν to interchange "them", Xen.:—of an oath, θεῶν πίστεις ὀμνύναι Thuc.; πίστιν ἐπιτιθέναι or προστιθέναι τινί Dem.: —φόβων π. "an assurance against" fears, Eur.
2. "a means of persuasion, an argument, proof", such as used by orators, Plat., etc.