credit

Borrowed from Middle French crédit (“belief, trust”), from Latin crēditum (“a loan, credit”), neuter of crēditus, past participle of crēdere (“to believe”). The verb is from the noun. Doublet of shraddha, creed.

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹɛdɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛdɪt

credit (third-person singular simple present credits, present participle crediting, simple past and past participle credited)

1. (transitive) To believe; to put credence in.

   Synonyms: accept, believe

   Someone said there were over 100,000 people there, but I can't credit that.

   • c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:

     How shall they credit
     A poor unlearned virgin?

   • 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, IV.iii:

     [T]he Heart that is conscious of its own integrity is ever slowest to credit another's Treachery.

   • 1952, Daphne du Maurier, “Monte Verità”, in The Apple Tree:

     She said quite naturally, as if nothing had happened, “I want you to go back home, Victor darling. You mustn’t worry about me any more.”’ Victor told me he could hardly credit it, at first, that she could stand there and say this to him.

2. (transitive, accounting) To add to an account.

   Antonym: debit

   Credit accounts receivable with the amount of the invoice.

   For the payroll period credit employees' tips to their wages paid account and debit their minimum wage payable account.

   The full amount of the purchase has been credited to your account.

3. (transitive) To acknowledge the contribution of.

   I credit the town council with restoring the shopping district.

   Credit the point guard with another assist.

4. (transitive) To bring honour or repute upon; to do credit to; to raise the estimation of.
   • 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727, →OCLC:

     You credit the church as much by your government as you did the school formerly by your wit.

credit (countable and uncountable, plural credits)

1. Reliance on the truth of something said or done; faith; trust.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Maccabees 10:46:

     When Jonathan and the people heard these words they gave no credit into them, nor received them.

2. (uncountable) Recognition, respect and admiration.

   I give you credit for owning up to your mistake.

   He arrived five minutes late, but to his credit he did work an extra ten minutes at the end of his shift.

   • 1782, William Cowper, “The Diverting History of John Gilpin, […]”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson;  […], published 1785, →OCLC, page 343:

     John Gilpin was a citizen
     Of credit and renown,
     A train-band Captain eke was he
     Of famous London town.

   • 1946 July and August, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 213:

     The admirable smoothness of the riding also reflected the greatest credit on those who, despite the difficulties caused by the shortage of men and materials, have succeeded in maintaining the track in such first-class order.

   • 2011 December 10, David Ornstein quoting David Moyes, “Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton”, in BBC Sport‎:

     "I've got to give credit to Van Persie, it was a great goal. We didn't mean to give them chances but they're a good team."

   • 2017 February 23, Katie Rife, “The Girl With All The Gifts tries to put a fresh spin on overripe zombie clichés”, in The Onion AV Club‎:

     You have to give director Colm McCarthy, a Scottish TV veteran making his feature film debut, and writer Mike Carey, adapting his own novel, credit for attempting the seemingly impossible task of doing something new with the zombie subgenre.

3. (countable) Acknowledgement of a contribution, especially in the performing arts.

   She received a singing credit in last year's operetta.

   • 2020 November 1, Alan Young, “His first major acting credit came in 1957 British gangster film No Road Back.”, in The Scotsman‎:
4. (television/film, usually in the plural) Written titles and other information about the TV program or movie shown at the beginning and/or end of the TV program or movie.

   They kissed, and then the credits rolled.

5. (uncountable, law, business, finance) A privilege of delayed payment extended to a buyer or borrower on the seller's or lender's belief that what is given will be repaid.

   In view of your payment record, we are happy to extend further credit to you.

6. The time given for payment for something sold on trust.

   a long credit or a short credit

7. (uncountable, US) A person's credit rating or creditworthiness, as represented by their history of borrowing and repayment (or non payment).

   What do you mean my credit is no good?

8. (accounting) An addition to certain accounts; the side of an account on which payments received are entered.
9. (tax accounting) A reduction in taxes owed, or a refund for excess taxes paid.

   Didn't you know that the IRS will refund any excess payroll taxes that you paid if you use the 45(B) general business credit?

10. A source of value, distinction or honour.

    That engineer is a credit to the team.

    • 1836, Henry Francis Cary, The Poetical Works of Alexander Pope.: The Author's Preface:

      I published, because I was told I might please such as it was a credit to please.

11. (science fiction) A unit of currency used in a fictional universe or timeframe.

    To repair your star cruiser will cost 100,000 credits.

    • 1934 December, John W. Campbell, Jr., “The Mightiest Machine”, in Astounding Stories, volume XIV, number 4, Street & Smith, page 12:

      Aside from the fact that she means nearly ten million credits investment, which no one will insure on this trip, there will necessarily be seventy-three men aboard.

    • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Credits ("Creds") Codex entry:

      The standard credit was established by the Citadel's Unified Banking Act as the currency of interstellar trade. The credit has a managed floating exchange rate, calculated in real time by the central bank to maintain the average value of all participating currencies. Some regional currencies are worth more than a credit and some less.

    • 2016, A.K. Brown, Jumpstart (Champagne Universe Series: Book 1), page 19:

      "First the Patrons wipe-out our home world, now you blow any chance of us making any credits," Kane said in his gruff sinking voice.

12. A nominal unit of value assigned outside of a currency system.

    Would you like to play? I put in a dollar and I've got two credits left.

    • 2012, Brian Carter, Justin Levy, Facebook Marketing, Que Publishing, →ISBN, page 178:

      Facebook Credits are a virtual currency used only on Facebook that debuted in May 2009. Ten credits are equal to one dollar. Facebook keeps 30% of all Facebook Credit transactions.

13. (uncountable) Recognition for having taken a course (class).

    If you do not come to class, you will not get credit for the class, regardless of how well you do on the final.

14. (countable) A course credit, a credit hour – used as measure if enough courses have been taken for graduation.

    Dude, I just need 3 more credits to graduate – I can take socio-linguistics of Swahili if I want.

• (course credit, credit hour): unit

• credible

• “credit”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• credit in Keywords for Today: A 21st Century Vocabulary, edited by The Keywords Project, Colin MacCabe, Holly Yanacek, 2018.
• “credit”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

• direct, triced

crēdit

1. third-person singular present active indicative of crēdō

Borrowed from French crédit.

credit n (plural credite)

1. credit

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈkrɛdɪt/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /ˈkreːdɪt/, /ˈkrɛdɪt/

credit (literary)

1. second-person singular imperfect/conditional of credu

credit m (plural creditau)

1. Alternative form of credyd (“credit”)