credibleness (krediblnes)

Credibility; worthine of belief; just claim to [Rare.] IMG:content-1580.png:[blocks in formation] credit or confidence. Credential letters on both sides. Camden , Elizabeth (trans.), an. 1600. II. n. 1. That which gives credit; that which gives a title or claim to confidence. [Rare in the singular.] 0. W. Holmes, The Island Ruin. Their kings suspect each other, but pretend Credence of what their lying lips disclose. R. H. Stoddard , History. 2. That which gives a claim to credit, belief, or confidence; credentials: now used only in the phrase letter of credence (a paper intended to commend the bearer to the confidence of a third person). He left his credence to make good the rest. Tyndale. The foresaid Master general which now is hath caused vs his me engers to be sent with letters of credence vnto your Maiestie. Hakluyt's Voyages , I. 148. What Sign, what Powers, what Credence do you bring? Cowley, Pindaric Odes, xiv. 3. 3t. Some act or proce of testing the nature or character of food before serving it, as a precaution against poison, formerly practised in royal or noble households. Credence is vsed, & tastynge, for drede of poysenynge. Babees Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 196. Tasting and credence (or a aying) belong to no rank under that of an Earl. For this great dominion here, Which over other beasts we claim, Reason our best credential doth appear. Bucking hams hire, Ode on Brutus. 2. pl. Evidences of right to credence or authority; specifically, letters of credence; testimonials given to a person as the warrant on which belief, credit, or authority is claimed for him, as the letters of commendation and authorization given by a government to an amba ador or envoy, which procure for him recognition and credit at a foreign court, or the certificate and other papers showing the appointment or election of an officer. To produce his credentials that he is indeed God's amba ador. Trench. He felt that he had shown his credentials , and they were not accepted. G. W. Curtis, Int. to Cecil Dreeme, p. 2. Etiquette, however, demands that the audience for presenting credentials should take place as early as po ible. E. Schuyler, American Diplomacy, p. 136. In very many cases the [medieval] letters were little more than credentials. The real news was carried by the bearer of the letter. Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 128. Booke of Precedence (E. E. T. S., extra ser.), i. 17, note 3. 41. In medieval times, a side-table or sideboard on which the food was placed to be tasted credibility (kred-i-bil'i-ti), (kred-i-bil'i-ti), n.; pl. credibilities before serving; hence, in later use, a cupboard (-tiz). [= OF. crcablete , croiableté , F. crédibilité Philip was seen by one credibly informing us, under a strong guard. Mr. Dudley , in New England's Memorial, p. 436. A covering of snow, which, by-the-by, is deep enough, so I am credibly informed, to drive the big game from the [Yellow stone] park during the winter months. Pop . Sci . Mo. , XXVIII. 677. credit (kred'it), v. t. [L. credit us , pp. of credere, believe, trust, confide, = Ir. cret-im = Gael. creid , believe (perhaps from L.), = Skt. crad- dadhāmi , I believe (pp. crad - dadhat , trusting, craddhā , trust, faith, desire), crad , meaning perhaps 'heart' (= Gr. καρδία : L. cor ( d- ) = E. heart ), + √ dhā (= Gr. διδόναι = L. dare , give): grad being used only in connection with this verb. In some senses the E. verb, like F. créditer (> G. credit i ren = Dan, kreditere ), is from the noun. Hence (from L. credere ) also credit, n., credible, credent, credence, creant, creance, miscreant, recreant, creed, grant, etc.] 1. To believe; confide in the truth of; put credence or confidence in: as, to credit a report or the person who makes it. Now I change my mind, And partly credit things that do presage. Shak ., J. C., v. 1. 'Tis an easy and nece ary belief, to credit what our eye and sense hath examined. Sir T. Browne, Religio Medici, i. 9. For politene ' sake, he tried to credit the invention, but grew suspicious instead. G. W. Cable, Old Creole Days, p. 239. 2. To reflect credit upon; do credit to; give reputation or honor to. credit Gru. Thou, it seems,... callest for company to countenance her. Curt. I call them forth to credit her. Shak., T. of the S., iv. 1. May here her monument stand so, To credit this rude age. Waller, Epitaph on Lady Sedley. 3. To trust; sell or lend in confidence of future payment: as, to credit goods or money.-4. To enter upon the credit side of an account; give credit for: as, to credit the amount paid; to credit the interest paid on a bond.=Syn. 1. Το give faith to, confide in, rely upon.