[cred.it] n [MF, fr. OIt credito, fr. L creditum something entrusted to another, loan, fr. neut. of creditus, pp. of credere to believe, entrust--more at creed] (1537) 1: reliance on the truth or reality of something "gave ~ to everything he said"
2. a: the balance in a person's favor in an account b: an amount or sum placed at a person's disposal by a bank c: time given for payment for goods or services sold on trust "long-term ~" d (1): an entry on the right-hand side of an account constituting an addition to a revenue, net worth, or liability account (2): a deduction from an expense or asset account e: any one of or the sum of the items entered on the right-hand side of an account f: a deduction from an amount otherwise due 3 a: influence or power derived from enjoying the confidence of another or others b: good name: esteem; also: financial or commercial trustworthiness
4. archaic: credibility
5: a source of honor "a ~ to the school"
6. a: something that gains or adds to reputation or esteem: honor "took no ~ for his kindly act" b: recognition, acknowledgment "quite willing to accept undeserved ~" 7: recognition by name of a person contributing to a performance (as a film or telecast) "the opening ~s"
8. a: recognition by a school or college that a student has fulfilled a requirement leading to a degree b: credit hour syn see belief, influence
[2]credit vt [partly fr. [1]credit; partly fr. L creditus, pp.] (1541) 1: to supply goods on credit to
2: to trust in the truth of: believe 3 archaic: to bring credit or honor upon
4. a: to enter upon the credit side of an account b: to place an amount to the credit of "~ his account with ten dollars"
5. a: to consider usu. favorably as the source, agent, or performer of an action or the possessor of a trait "~s him with an excellent sense of humor" b: to attribute to some person "they ~ the invention to him" syn see ascribe