credit (kredit)

[= D. krediet = G. Dan. Sw. kredit, This faculty of credit , and accepting or admitting things weakly authorized or warranted, is of two kinds. Bacon , Advancement of Learning, i. 48. There is no composition in these news, That gives them credit . Shak ., Othello, i. 3. Mrs. Pindust behaved herself with such an air of innocence that she easily gained credit and was acquitted. Add is on, Trial of the Dead in Reason. What though no credit doubting wits may give? The fair and innocent shall still believe. Pope , R. of the L., i. 39. As slaves they would have obtained little credit , except when falling in with a previous idea or belief. De Quincey , Hero dot us. 2. Repute as to veracity, integrity, ability, reliablene , etc.; right to confidence or trust; faith due to the action, character, or quality of a person or thing; reputation: as, the credit of a historian; a physician in high credit with the profe ion; the credit of the securities is at a low ebb. To-morrow, sir, I wrestle for my credit ; and he that escapes me without some broken limb shall acquit him well. Shak., As you Like it, i. 1. How many wounds have been given, and credits slain, for the poor victory of an opinion! Sir T. Browne , Religio Medici, ii. 3. 3. Good repute; favorable estimation; trustful regard or consideration. Nothing was judged more nece ary by him [our Saviour] than to bring the vanities of this World out of that credit and reputation they had gained among foolish men. Stilling fleet , Sermons, I. iii. Yes, while I live, no rich or noble knave Shall walk the world in credit to his grave. Pope , Imit. of Horace, II. i. 120. 4. That which procures or is entitled to belief or confidence; authority derived from character or reputation: as, we believe a story on the credit of the narrator. We are content to take this on your credit. Hooker. Authors of so good credit that we need not to deny them an historical faith. I. Walton, Complete Angler, p. 41. Exactly so, upon my credit, ma'am. Sheridan , School for Scandal, iv. 3. 5. One who or that which brings or reflects honor or distinction. Charles may yet be a credit to his family. 1341 Manufactures were rude, credit almost unknown; society therefore recovered from the shock of war almost as soon as the actual conflict was over. Macaulay. As it is, he has to buy on a credit, an uncertain one at that, all his store things. The merchant, he puts on so much over an' above, because it's a credit bargain. W. M. Baker , New Timothy, p. 231. (b). The reputation of solvency and probity which entitles a man to be trusted in buying or borrowing. Credit supposes specific and permanent funds for the punctual payment of interest, with a moral certainty of the final redemption of the principal. A. Hamilton , Continentalist, No. iv. 8. In bookkeeping, the side of an account on which payment ayment is entered: opposed to debit: as, this article is carried to one's credit and that to one's debit. Abbreviated Cr.-9. A note or bill i ued by a government, or by a corporation or individual, which circulates on the confidence of men in the ability and disposition of the i uer to redeem it: distinctively called a bill of credit.-10. The time given for payment for anything sold on trust: as, a long credit or a short credit.-11. A sum of money due to some person; anything valuable standing on the creditor side of an account: as, A has a credit on the books of B; the credits are more than balanced by the debits. Credits of warehouse receipts and bills of lading.