credibleadj.n.

Brit.

/ˈkrɛdᵻbl/, U.S.

/ˈkrɛdəbəl/

Forms: Middle English credeable, Middle English credebule, Middle English credibele, Middle English credybyl, Middle English (1500s Scottish) credibill, Middle English–1500s credyble, Middle English– credible, 1500s credable, 1500s credabull, 1600s credibble.

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French credible; Latin crēdibilis.

Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman credable , Anglo-Norman and Middle French credible (12th cent. in Anglo-Norman; early 15th cent. or earlier in Middle French; French crédible ), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin crēdibilis capable of being believed, conceivable, worthy to be believed, plausible, probable, likely, in post-classical Latin also that believes (4th cent.) < crēdere to believe (see credit v.) + -bilis -ble suffix. Compare creable adj.¹

A. adj.

a. Able to be believed in, justifying confidence; convincingly honest, principled, or authentic and often, as a corollary, accurate (passing into sense A. 1b); trustworthy, reliable.

(a) Of information, evidence, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > credibility > [adjective] > of evidence or information

good1340

crediblea1393

creditable1594

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 2528 Among the kinges in the bible I finde a tale, and is credible, Of him.

1426 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 6 I herde..no maner lykly ne credible euidence.

a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 37/2 This haue I by credible informacion learned.

a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) i. ii. 4 So tis reported sir..Nay tis most credible.

1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 59 She had very credible information that there was a foul rasure in Sir John Cuts's will.

1809 Crit. Rev. June 115 They considered it at the time, as a credible proof that he was the Messiah.

1868 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 24 Apr. 416/2 Credible analyses from various authorities have shown 10, 12, and even 15 per cent. as the contents of certain roots under favourable conditions.

1914 A. C. Headlam Miracles New Test. (1915) ix. 338 If I am asked whether this or that miracle is credible or not, the answer that I would give would be this: [etc.].

1964 Life 2 Oct. 42/3 The Warren Commission has established that there is not a scintilla of credible evidence to suggest a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy.

2000 J. Herbert Journalism in Digital Age (2004) vi. 123 Broadcasters slowly began to understand that the writing and the presentation of the writing combined to form a credible news message.

(b) Of a person, source of information, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > credibility > [adjective] > of persons

credible1420

authentical1550

creditable1594

1420 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 53 Ȝif any man can aske any dete off me, other be euidence or þat they be credibill persones, I will þat they be paied.

1478 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 509 Any such credyble man maye, iff he wyll wytnesse ther-in wyth me.

c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. xlvi/2 Promysing feithfully in the presente of credyble persones.

1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Di^v Though the euidence be playne And the accusares credible.

1614 E. Paston in Norfolk Rec. Soc. (1941) 14 41 We must agree to allowe the testimoney of honest Credibble men, although they deliuer their testimoney vnsworne.

1671 J. Webster Metallographia iii. 40 Observations from credible Authors.

1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. Pref. 11 Which I noted down from the mouth of credible persons.

1795 T. Maurice Hist. Hindostan I. iii. xii. 470 How little should we have known, from any credible source, of the rapid scientific advance of the ancients a few ages after the flood, had the Pentateuch never been written.

1833 E. Smith Res. E. Smith & H. G. O. Dwight in Armenia I. xxiv. 323 An Armenian of the place had told us at Erzroom, that they amount in the city to 900 families; but a more credible informant on the spot assured us, that they are only 500.

1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues IV. 542 I have been informed by a credible person that [etc.].

1908 Virginia Law Reg. 13 945 The justice determines whether the informant is a credible resident or not.

1958 L. P. Beth Amer. Theory Church & State v. 119 Such laws were the result of the belief that non-Christians or atheists could not be credible witnesses.

2002 Foreign Policy July 91/1 CNN influences policymakers because it's a credible news source.

b. Able to be believed; convincingly true or accurate.

(a) Of an assertion, account, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > credibility > [adjective]

leaffulc1275

levelya1300

trowablea1340

believablea1382

leveable1382

credible?c1400

creable1480

faithworthy?1526

creditworthy1554

credent?a1579

creditable1594

persuadable1617

persuasible1638

swallowable1818

?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. iv. l. 3531 Al be it so þat þis ne seme nat credible þing perauenture to somme folk.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 2423 Þe mortal harme..Þat is wel more þan it is credible.

1531 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Chron. Scotl. (1938) I. 39 Maid þe slycht moir credibill and suspect.

1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie ii. iv. 102 Sith the ground of credite is the credibilitie of thinges credited; and things are made credible, eyther by the knowne condition and qualitie of the vtterer, or by the manifest likelihood of truth which they haue in themselues.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. ii. 7 Than right reason makes that which they say, appear credible.

1749 C. Middleton Free Inq. Miraculous Powers 219 But the faith of history would rest on a very slippery bottom, could it be shaken in any degree by our contempt of so silly a tale: which tho' no man of a sound judgement can think credible, yet none will conceive the least doubt on that account, about the reality of the battel or the other circumstances of it.

1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne 211 Who had the fate to be disbelieved in every credible assertion.

1824 W. J. Burchell Trav. Interior S. Afr. II. 158 Such Hottentots or slaves as are found, improperly or illegally wandering about the country, without a passport, or unable to give a credible account of themselves.

1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. i. xi. 142 When the falsehood ceased to be credible the system which was based upon it collapsed.

1902 Cornhill Mag. Apr. 462 Leodius represents Granada as the largest and most populous city in Spain, a credible statement, considering the extent of its silk manufactures.

1955 P. M. Kendall Richard III ii. iii. 315 Polydore Vergil tells a simpler but scarcely more credible story.

1999 Nature 28 Jan. 314/1 The chapter..in defence of the polyphyly of arthropods may be the last written on this issue, since the credible arguments for polyphyly are quickly disappearing.

(b) Of a matter of fact: with anticipatory it.

ΚΠ

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. KKKiiii And it is to suppose, & credible to beleue, that [etc.].

1563 W. Fulke Goodle Gallerye Causes Meteors iv. f. 52 Some wold make it seme credible, that of vapors and Exhalations..a calfe, myght be made in the cloudes.

1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xlix. 195 No news could be heard of her, which made it credible that she also suffered shipwrack.

1699 Bp. G. Burnet Expos. 39 Articles (1700) vi. 81 It is not all credible that an Imposture of this kind could have passed upon all the Christian Churches.

1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. iv. Observ. 261 Is it credible that any person could modulate her voice so artfully as to resemble so many voices?

1786 J. Bonnycastle Introd. Astron. 368 It is not credible that beings of our make and temperature could live upon them.

1829 J. P. Lawson Hist. Remarkable Conspiracies I. iv. 52 It is hardly credible to think that, at his great age, he was able to endure the tortures inflicted on him.

1847 H. Miller Test. Rocks (1857) viii. 318 It is not credible that all the solid shed antlers of such a species of deer could be carried by the same cause to such a distance.

1921 M. I. M. Bell Short Hist. Papacy i. iii. 16 It would be hardly credible to suppose that the political crisis..should leave unmoved the spiritual institution which it most nearly affected.

2006 Focus Nov. 73/2 Is it really credible that a very ordinary actor from the provinces should metamorphose into so extraordinary a dramatist?

c. Able to be believed in as effective or operational. Originally of a nuclear weapon: considered likely to be used (cf. credibility n. 1b).

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > defence > [adjective] > of defences: credible

credible1960

1958 Times 28 Feb. 9/2 The intention of the west to use the deterrent is credible if we use Mr. Macmillan's postulates.]

1960 Times 11 Feb. 11/6 As a guarantee of European nuclear retaliation against a nuclear attack a N.A.T.O. deterrent would be highly credible.

1966 U. Schwarz & L. Hadik Strategic Terminol. 42 Credible first strike capability.

1968 Listener 21 Mar. 362/1 Where the opposition does have a clear policy, it is but a shadow of the government's; and on the whole we do not have a credible opposition at all.

1980 A. L. A. Patti Why Viet Nam? iv. xxxvi. 398 But in the summer of 1949 Bao Dai's efforts to form a credible government were frustrated by a lack of confidence among honest men and the venality of the personally ambitious.

1992 S. P. Cohen in M. L. Cohen Asia 308 Pakistan regrouped, and today maintains a credible army and air force.

2002 K. Matinuddin Nuclearization S. Asia viii. 176 Nuclear deterrence will only be credible if..political leaders are known to have the will-power to use these weapons when required.

2006 M. Pollan Omnivore's Dilemma ix. 150 A relic, perhaps, of our fetishism of science as the only credible tool with which to approach nature.

2. Ready, willing, or inclined to believe; credulous.Now commonly regarded as erroneous by usage writers.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > [adjective] > inclined to believe

crediblec1425

credulous1553

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 3982 (MED) Beth nat a-gaste, but fully beth credyble To my wordis.

a1450 St. Edith (Faust.) (1883) l. 4347 (MED) Þuse men weren credeable of seynt Edus godenasse.

1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. ii. A iiij b One too much Beleeuing, Credulous, Credible.

a1674 [implied in: T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 217 There is a fair Way laid open to the Credible of such Objects attested and revealed with such Circumstances.].

a1881 W. B. Hodgson Errors in Use Eng. (1882) i. 72 To any classical scholar a confusion between credible (credibilis) and credulous (credulus) must seem most strange, and, indeed, this is a blunder rarely met with.]

1900 E. Sassoon in Official Rep. 4th Congr. Chambers of Commerce of Empire (London Chamber of Commerce) 73/2 Those statistics which the company sends out for public consumption, evidently thinking the public must be very credible and gullible.

1986 N. St. John-Stevas in New Scientist 20 Nov. 69/3 I'm afraid people are credible and gullible. This is one of the results of original sin, and I do not think one can do much about it in law.

2008 J. Rudinow & V. E. Barry Invitation to Crit. Thinking (ed. 6) v. xiii. 397 If you don't know the difference in meaning between the word ‘credible’ and the word ‘credulous’, you shouldn't use either one.]

3. Having or deserving credit or repute; creditable, reputable. Now only of an action, effort, or performance.Now commonly regarded as erroneous by usage writers.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [adjective]

faireOE

wortheOE

worthlyeOE

worthfulOE

menskful?c1225

toldc1275

digne1297

of price?a1300

worshiply1340

worthya1350

menska1375

thriftyc1374

worshipfula1375

worthilya1375

honesta1382

honourablec1384

unshamedc1384

sada1387

of reputationc1390

well-nameda1393

reverent1398

worthy (worshipful, wise) in wanea1400

celebrable?c1400

honouredc1400

worshipablec1425

substantialc1449

undefameda1450

unreviled?1457

honorousa1500

reputed?1532

well-thought-ona1533

well-spoken1539

credible1543

undespised?1548

imitable1550

famous1555

undistained1565

undefame1578

untarred1579

well-reputed1583

unsoiledc1592

dishonourless1595

well-deemed1595

nameworthy1598

regardful1600

indisgraced1606

credenta1616

undishonoureda1616

unscandalized1618

unscandalous1618

unslandered1622

untainted1627

dignousa1636

undisparaged1636

considerable1641

unbranded1641

glorifiable1651

reputable1671

unsullied1743

unstigmatized1778

undisgraced1812

unstained1863

well-thought-of1865

uncompromised1882

scandal-proof1904

cred1987

1543 Proclam. Henry VIII 22 Apr. (single sheet) (title) For as moche as by credyble meanes it hath bene declared to the kynges maiestie, that the frenche kynge..hath..ayded the great Turke [etc.].

1608 Araignement & Burning Margaret Ferne-seede sig. B1^v Putting her cause to God and the Countrie, which were a credible Iurie paniled, and had there made their personall appearance for that purpose.

1631 J. Milton Let. in Wks. (1953) I. 319 To which nothing is esteemed more helpefull then the early entring into credible employment.

1647 W. Lilly Christian Astrol. xxix. 191 He is in good estimation and lives in a credible way.

1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull in his Senses ii. iii. 10 A good Credible way of Living.

1802 Monthly Epitome Nov. 682/2 Hesiod has written a poem on purpose to recommend husbandry, as the only credible means of subsisting and improving ones fortune.

1921 F. S. Mathews Field Bk. Wild Birds & their Music (rev. ed.) 253 Like all the northern Thrushes, he is a transcendentalist, who is never satisfied with a credible effort, but must try for something better and then ‘goes to pieces’ in the attempt!

1982 Verbatim Spring 17/2 The crowd was small, but that didn't stop the Allman Brothers, noted Southern rock band, from putting on a credible show.

2003 C. Soanes & A. Stevenson Oxf. Dict. Eng. (ed. 2) 406/2 Confusion often arises between the words credible and creditable.]

B. n.

With the and plural agreement. Credulous people. rare.See note at sense A. 2.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > over-readiness to believe, credulity > [noun] > credulous person

credulous1583

easy weener1604

credulist1616

swallow1625

crediblea1674

camel-swallower1802

gobemouche1818

swallower1821

unphilosopher1829

stiffy1965

a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 217 There is a fair Way laid open to the Credible of such Objects attested and revealed with such Circumstances.

1914–15 R. D. Anstead in S. Playne et al. Southern India (2004) 221/1 There the credible may see what are said to be the original plants grown from the seed introduced by Baba Budan.

1919 ‘B. Vishita’ Genuine Mediumship vii. 157 Imitations can of course be made which might satisfy the credible and the gullible.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	credible
释义	credibleadj.n. Brit. /ˈkrɛdᵻbl/, U.S. /ˈkrɛdəbəl/ Forms: Middle English credeable, Middle English credebule, Middle English credibele, Middle English credybyl, Middle English (1500s Scottish) credibill, Middle English–1500s credyble, Middle English– credible, 1500s credable, 1500s credabull, 1600s credibble. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French credible; Latin crēdibilis. Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman credable , Anglo-Norman and Middle French credible (12th cent. in Anglo-Norman; early 15th cent. or earlier in Middle French; French crédible ), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin crēdibilis capable of being believed, conceivable, worthy to be believed, plausible, probable, likely, in post-classical Latin also that believes (4th cent.) < crēdere to believe (see credit v.) + -bilis -ble suffix. Compare creable adj.¹ A. adj. 1. a. Able to be believed in, justifying confidence; convincingly honest, principled, or authentic and often, as a corollary, accurate (passing into sense A. 1b); trustworthy, reliable. (a) Of information, evidence, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > credibility > [adjective] > of evidence or information good1340 crediblea1393 creditable1594 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 2528 Among the kinges in the bible I finde a tale, and is credible, Of him. 1426 W. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 6 I herde..no maner lykly ne credible euidence. a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 37/2 This haue I by credible informacion learned. a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) i. ii. 4 So tis reported sir..Nay tis most credible. 1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 59 She had very credible information that there was a foul rasure in Sir John Cuts's will. 1809 Crit. Rev. June 115 They considered it at the time, as a credible proof that he was the Messiah. 1868 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 24 Apr. 416/2 Credible analyses from various authorities have shown 10, 12, and even 15 per cent. as the contents of certain roots under favourable conditions. 1914 A. C. Headlam Miracles New Test. (1915) ix. 338 If I am asked whether this or that miracle is credible or not, the answer that I would give would be this: [etc.]. 1964 Life 2 Oct. 42/3 The Warren Commission has established that there is not a scintilla of credible evidence to suggest a conspiracy to kill President Kennedy. 2000 J. Herbert Journalism in Digital Age (2004) vi. 123 Broadcasters slowly began to understand that the writing and the presentation of the writing combined to form a credible news message. (b) Of a person, source of information, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > credibility > [adjective] > of persons credible1420 authentical1550 creditable1594 1420 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 53 Ȝif any man can aske any dete off me, other be euidence or þat they be credibill persones, I will þat they be paied. 1478 J. Paston in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) I. 509 Any such credyble man maye, iff he wyll wytnesse ther-in wyth me. c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. xlvi/2 Promysing feithfully in the presente of credyble persones. 1549 R. Crowley Voyce Laste Trumpet sig. Di^v Though the euidence be playne And the accusares credible. 1614 E. Paston in Norfolk Rec. Soc. (1941) 14 41 We must agree to allowe the testimoney of honest Credibble men, although they deliuer their testimoney vnsworne. 1671 J. Webster Metallographia iii. 40 Observations from credible Authors. 1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. Pref. 11 Which I noted down from the mouth of credible persons. 1795 T. Maurice Hist. Hindostan I. iii. xii. 470 How little should we have known, from any credible source, of the rapid scientific advance of the ancients a few ages after the flood, had the Pentateuch never been written. 1833 E. Smith Res. E. Smith & H. G. O. Dwight in Armenia I. xxiv. 323 An Armenian of the place had told us at Erzroom, that they amount in the city to 900 families; but a more credible informant on the spot assured us, that they are only 500. 1871 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues IV. 542 I have been informed by a credible person that [etc.]. 1908 Virginia Law Reg. 13 945 The justice determines whether the informant is a credible resident or not. 1958 L. P. Beth Amer. Theory Church & State v. 119 Such laws were the result of the belief that non-Christians or atheists could not be credible witnesses. 2002 Foreign Policy July 91/1 CNN influences policymakers because it's a credible news source. b. Able to be believed; convincingly true or accurate. (a) Of an assertion, account, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > credibility > [adjective] leaffulc1275 levelya1300 trowablea1340 believablea1382 leveable1382 credible?c1400 creable1480 faithworthy?1526 creditworthy1554 credent?a1579 creditable1594 persuadable1617 persuasible1638 swallowable1818 ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. iv. l. 3531 Al be it so þat þis ne seme nat credible þing perauenture to somme folk. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 2423 Þe mortal harme..Þat is wel more þan it is credible. 1531 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece Chron. Scotl. (1938) I. 39 Maid þe slycht moir credibill and suspect. 1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie ii. iv. 102 Sith the ground of credite is the credibilitie of thinges credited; and things are made credible, eyther by the knowne condition and qualitie of the vtterer, or by the manifest likelihood of truth which they haue in themselues. 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan i. ii. 7 Than right reason makes that which they say, appear credible. 1749 C. Middleton Free Inq. Miraculous Powers 219 But the faith of history would rest on a very slippery bottom, could it be shaken in any degree by our contempt of so silly a tale: which tho' no man of a sound judgement can think credible, yet none will conceive the least doubt on that account, about the reality of the battel or the other circumstances of it. 1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne 211 Who had the fate to be disbelieved in every credible assertion. 1824 W. J. Burchell Trav. Interior S. Afr. II. 158 Such Hottentots or slaves as are found, improperly or illegally wandering about the country, without a passport, or unable to give a credible account of themselves. 1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. i. xi. 142 When the falsehood ceased to be credible the system which was based upon it collapsed. 1902 Cornhill Mag. Apr. 462 Leodius represents Granada as the largest and most populous city in Spain, a credible statement, considering the extent of its silk manufactures. 1955 P. M. Kendall Richard III ii. iii. 315 Polydore Vergil tells a simpler but scarcely more credible story. 1999 Nature 28 Jan. 314/1 The chapter..in defence of the polyphyly of arthropods may be the last written on this issue, since the credible arguments for polyphyly are quickly disappearing. (b) Of a matter of fact: with anticipatory it. ΚΠ 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. KKKiiii And it is to suppose, & credible to beleue, that [etc.]. 1563 W. Fulke Goodle Gallerye Causes Meteors iv. f. 52 Some wold make it seme credible, that of vapors and Exhalations..a calfe, myght be made in the cloudes. 1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xlix. 195 No news could be heard of her, which made it credible that she also suffered shipwrack. 1699 Bp. G. Burnet Expos. 39 Articles (1700) vi. 81 It is not all credible that an Imposture of this kind could have passed upon all the Christian Churches. 1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. iv. Observ. 261 Is it credible that any person could modulate her voice so artfully as to resemble so many voices? 1786 J. Bonnycastle Introd. Astron. 368 It is not credible that beings of our make and temperature could live upon them. 1829 J. P. Lawson Hist. Remarkable Conspiracies I. iv. 52 It is hardly credible to think that, at his great age, he was able to endure the tortures inflicted on him. 1847 H. Miller Test. Rocks (1857) viii. 318 It is not credible that all the solid shed antlers of such a species of deer could be carried by the same cause to such a distance. 1921 M. I. M. Bell Short Hist. Papacy i. iii. 16 It would be hardly credible to suppose that the political crisis..should leave unmoved the spiritual institution which it most nearly affected. 2006 Focus Nov. 73/2 Is it really credible that a very ordinary actor from the provinces should metamorphose into so extraordinary a dramatist? c. Able to be believed in as effective or operational. Originally of a nuclear weapon: considered likely to be used (cf. credibility n. 1b). ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > defence > [adjective] > of defences: credible credible1960 1958 Times 28 Feb. 9/2 The intention of the west to use the deterrent is credible if we use Mr. Macmillan's postulates.] 1960 Times 11 Feb. 11/6 As a guarantee of European nuclear retaliation against a nuclear attack a N.A.T.O. deterrent would be highly credible. 1966 U. Schwarz & L. Hadik Strategic Terminol. 42 Credible first strike capability. 1968 Listener 21 Mar. 362/1 Where the opposition does have a clear policy, it is but a shadow of the government's; and on the whole we do not have a credible opposition at all. 1980 A. L. A. Patti Why Viet Nam? iv. xxxvi. 398 But in the summer of 1949 Bao Dai's efforts to form a credible government were frustrated by a lack of confidence among honest men and the venality of the personally ambitious. 1992 S. P. Cohen in M. L. Cohen Asia 308 Pakistan regrouped, and today maintains a credible army and air force. 2002 K. Matinuddin Nuclearization S. Asia viii. 176 Nuclear deterrence will only be credible if..political leaders are known to have the will-power to use these weapons when required. 2006 M. Pollan Omnivore's Dilemma ix. 150 A relic, perhaps, of our fetishism of science as the only credible tool with which to approach nature. 2. Ready, willing, or inclined to believe; credulous.Now commonly regarded as erroneous by usage writers. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > [adjective] > inclined to believe crediblec1425 credulous1553 c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 3982 (MED) Beth nat a-gaste, but fully beth credyble To my wordis. a1450 St. Edith (Faust.) (1883) l. 4347 (MED) Þuse men weren credeable of seynt Edus godenasse. 1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. ii. A iiij b One too much Beleeuing, Credulous, Credible. a1674 [implied in: T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 217 There is a fair Way laid open to the Credible of such Objects attested and revealed with such Circumstances.]. a1881 W. B. Hodgson Errors in Use Eng. (1882) i. 72 To any classical scholar a confusion between credible (credibilis) and credulous (credulus) must seem most strange, and, indeed, this is a blunder rarely met with.] 1900 E. Sassoon in Official Rep. 4th Congr. Chambers of Commerce of Empire (London Chamber of Commerce) 73/2 Those statistics which the company sends out for public consumption, evidently thinking the public must be very credible and gullible. 1986 N. St. John-Stevas in New Scientist 20 Nov. 69/3 I'm afraid people are credible and gullible. This is one of the results of original sin, and I do not think one can do much about it in law. 2008 J. Rudinow & V. E. Barry Invitation to Crit. Thinking (ed. 6) v. xiii. 397 If you don't know the difference in meaning between the word ‘credible’ and the word ‘credulous’, you shouldn't use either one.] 3. Having or deserving credit or repute; creditable, reputable. Now only of an action, effort, or performance.Now commonly regarded as erroneous by usage writers. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [adjective] faireOE wortheOE worthlyeOE worthfulOE menskful?c1225 toldc1275 digne1297 of price?a1300 worshiply1340 worthya1350 menska1375 thriftyc1374 worshipfula1375 worthilya1375 honesta1382 honourablec1384 unshamedc1384 sada1387 of reputationc1390 well-nameda1393 reverent1398 worthy (worshipful, wise) in wanea1400 celebrable?c1400 honouredc1400 worshipablec1425 substantialc1449 undefameda1450 unreviled?1457 honorousa1500 reputed?1532 well-thought-ona1533 well-spoken1539 credible1543 undespised?1548 imitable1550 famous1555 undistained1565 undefame1578 untarred1579 well-reputed1583 unsoiledc1592 dishonourless1595 well-deemed1595 nameworthy1598 regardful1600 indisgraced1606 credenta1616 undishonoureda1616 unscandalized1618 unscandalous1618 unslandered1622 untainted1627 dignousa1636 undisparaged1636 considerable1641 unbranded1641 glorifiable1651 reputable1671 unsullied1743 unstigmatized1778 undisgraced1812 unstained1863 well-thought-of1865 uncompromised1882 scandal-proof1904 cred1987 1543 Proclam. Henry VIII 22 Apr. (single sheet) (title) For as moche as by credyble meanes it hath bene declared to the kynges maiestie, that the frenche kynge..hath..ayded the great Turke [etc.]. 1608 Araignement & Burning Margaret Ferne-seede sig. B1^v Putting her cause to God and the Countrie, which were a credible Iurie paniled, and had there made their personall appearance for that purpose. 1631 J. Milton Let. in Wks. (1953) I. 319 To which nothing is esteemed more helpefull then the early entring into credible employment. 1647 W. Lilly Christian Astrol. xxix. 191 He is in good estimation and lives in a credible way. 1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull in his Senses ii. iii. 10 A good Credible way of Living. 1802 Monthly Epitome Nov. 682/2 Hesiod has written a poem on purpose to recommend husbandry, as the only credible means of subsisting and improving ones fortune. 1921 F. S. Mathews Field Bk. Wild Birds & their Music (rev. ed.) 253 Like all the northern Thrushes, he is a transcendentalist, who is never satisfied with a credible effort, but must try for something better and then ‘goes to pieces’ in the attempt! 1982 Verbatim Spring 17/2 The crowd was small, but that didn't stop the Allman Brothers, noted Southern rock band, from putting on a credible show. 2003 C. Soanes & A. Stevenson Oxf. Dict. Eng. (ed. 2) 406/2 Confusion often arises between the words credible and creditable.] B. n. With the and plural agreement. Credulous people. rare.See note at sense A. 2. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > over-readiness to believe, credulity > [noun] > credulous person credulous1583 easy weener1604 credulist1616 swallow1625 crediblea1674 camel-swallower1802 gobemouche1818 swallower1821 unphilosopher1829 stiffy1965 a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 217 There is a fair Way laid open to the Credible of such Objects attested and revealed with such Circumstances. 1914–15 R. D. Anstead in S. Playne et al. Southern India (2004) 221/1 There the credible may see what are said to be the original plants grown from the seed introduced by Baba Budan. 1919 ‘B. Vishita’ Genuine Mediumship vii. 157 Imitations can of course be made which might satisfy the credible and the gullible. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adj.n.a1393
随便看	next next a person's hand next adjacent next adjoining next akin next best next big thing next but one next comer next door next door but one next door to next ensuing next following next friend next hand next heir next in line next meeting next morning next most next nearest next nearest of kin next of blood next of kin