I. ˈkre-dit noun
Etymology: Middle French, from Old Italian credito, from Latin creditum something entrusted to another, loan, from neuter of creditus, past participle of credere to believe, entrust — more at creed
Date: 1537
1. : reliance on the truth or reality of something
gave credit 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. : the provision of money, goods, or services with the expectation of future payment
long-term credit
also : money, goods, or services so provided
exhausted their credit
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 credit to the school
6.
a. : something that gains or adds to reputation or esteem : honor
took no credit for his kindly act
b. : recognition , acknowledgment
quite willing to accept undeserved credit
7. : recognition by name of a person contributing to a performance (as a film or telecast)
the opening credit s
8.
a. : recognition by a school or college that a student has fulfilled a requirement leading to a degree
b. : credit hour
Synonyms: see belief , influence
II. transitive verb
Etymology: partly from credit (I); partly from Latin creditus, past participle
Date: circa 1530
1. : to trust in the truth of : believe
find his story hard to credit
2. : to supply goods on credit to
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
credit his account with ten dollars
5.
a. : to consider usually favorably as the source, agent, or performer of an action or the possessor of a trait
credit s him with an excellent sense of humor
b. : to attribute to some person
they credit the invention to him
Synonyms: see ascribe