CREED

noun Etymology: Middle English crede, from Old English crēda, from Latin credo (first word of the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds), from credere to believe, trust, entrust; akin to Old Irish cretid he believes, Sanskrit śrad-dadhāti Date: before 12th century a brief authoritative formula of religious belief, a set of fundamental beliefs, ~al or credal adjective