/kri den"sheuhl/ , n.
1. Usually, credentials .
2. evidence of authority, status, rights, entitlement to privileges, or the like, usually in written form: Only those with the proper credentials are admitted.
3. anything that provides the basis for confidence, belief, credit, etc.
v.t.
4. to grant credentials to, esp. educational and professional ones: She has been credentialed to teach math.
adj.
5. providing the basis for confidence, belief, credit, etc.
[ 1425-75; late ME credencial credenti ( a ) CREDENCE + -AL 1 ]