I. ˈkredə̇t, usu -ə̇d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, reputation, commercial credit, from Old Italian credito, from Latin creditum loan, from neuter of creditus, past participle of credere
1.
a. : the balance in a person's favor in an account ; also : an amount or limit to the extent of which a person may receive goods or money for payment in the future
b. : an amount or sum placed at a person's disposal by a bank : a loan of money
c. : time given for payment for goods or services sold for future payment
long-term 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 — abbr. cr; ; opposed to debit
f. : a sum of money (as to meet unexpected demands) voted by the British parliament for use during the fiscal year by the administration
votes of credit
g. : a deduction from an amount otherwise due
a tax credit for dividends received
a credit for returned goods
2.
a. : reliance on the truth or reality of something : belief , faith , trust
give no credit to these idle rumors
b. obsolete : something believed : a believed report
3.
a. : influence or power derived from enjoying the confidence of another or others : standing
I will use my credit with her to persuade her to go
b. : reputation especially when favorable : good name : esteem
he lived with credit in the village
also : financial or commercial trustworthiness : reputation entitling one to be trusted with money or goods advanced
4. archaic : the quality of being believed or of being worthy of belief : authority causing belief : credibility
5. : a source of honor
he was a credit to his family
6.
a. : something that gains or adds to reputation or esteem : honor
he took no credit for his generous act
it is to his credit that he acknowledged his error
b. : recognition , acknowledgment , ascription
he did not actually write the book, but he got credit for it
c. : a printed or spoken acknowledgment of the authorship, source, or ownership of material used in a publication or in a play, motion picture, or radio or television program
d. : a recognition by name of a person contributing to a performance (as the author, director, or producer of a broadcast, telecast, or stage play)
e. : recognition by a school or college typically measured in credit hours that a student has fulfilled a requirement leading to a degree (as by completing a course)
Synonyms: see belief , influence
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: partly from Latin creditus (past participle of credere ); partly from credit (I)
1.
a. : to supply goods on credit to
b. obsolete : entrust
2. : to trust in the truth of : believe
if we can credit ancient reports
3. archaic : to bring credit or honor upon
4. : to enter upon the credit side of an account : give credit for : place to the credit of — opposed to debit
5. : to give credit to: as
a. : to consider usually favorably as the source, author, motivating agent, or performer of an action or as possessor of a trait — usually used with with
Rivera, who is credited with introducing the spermaceti industry to the colonies — American Guide Series: Rhode Island
we are credited with hospitality, good nature, and high sexual morality — H.L.Carter
b. : to attribute (as an act or a trait) to some person — usually used with to
they credit the invention to him
Synonyms: see ascribe