Credit Means Belief
Credit is trust in someone's ability to pay. The Latin root means to believe, which is exactly what a lender does.
Credit is the trust that allows one party to provide resources to another with payment deferred. The Latin *credere* means to believe, which is a precise description of the transaction: a lender believes they will be repaid. The same verb gives *creed*, *credible*, *credentials* and *incredible*, so a credit card is, at root, a belief card.
- Deferred payment arrangement. *Buying on credit.*
- Recognition for work. *Take the credit.*
- A sum in an account. *A credit of fifty pounds.*
- An academic unit. *Twelve course credits.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | credit | Good credit. |
| Verb | credit | Credit the account. |
| Adjective | creditable | A creditable effort. |
| Person | creditor | Paid the creditors. |
| Related | credible | A credible threat. |
How it is used in a sentence
- She deserves the credit.Recognition.
- The account was credited.Money added.
- Credible and creditable differ.Believable versus deserving praise.
Words from *credere*, to believe
- Creed — a statement of belief
- Credible — believable
- Credentials — documents that make you believable
- Incredible — not to be believed
- Credulous — too ready to believe
From Italian *credito*, from Latin *creditum*, a loan or thing entrusted, from *credere*, to believe or trust.
Credible or creditable?
Credible means believable. Creditable means deserving praise. A creditable performance is a good one; a credible one is one you believe.
Credible or credulous?
Credible describes something believable. Credulous describes a person who believes too easily.