creditablyadv.
/ˈkrɛdᵻtəbli/, U.S. /ˈkrɛdədəbli/ 1. In a credible manner; credibly. Now chiefly in to be creditably informed.See note at creditable adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > belief, trust, confidence > credibility > [adverb]
credibly1425
credently?a1579
creditably1646
believably1865
1646 H. Hammond View Exceptions to Visct. Falkland's Disc. Infallibilitie 191 Miracles..creditably recorded from age to age, both in the Evangelists and other sequent Histories.
1705 F. Hare Hist. Campaign in Germany (new ed.) 6 The Elector of Bavaria's pernicious Designs, which was (being creditably reported thro' our whole Army) to have Marched in Person to Vienna.
1794 Gentleman's Mag. Nov. 1006/1 I have been creditably assured..that Mr. Timothy P. has publicly preached his brother Joseph to the bottomless pitt.
1811 Smollett's Roderick Random in T. Smollett Misc. Wks. (ed. 4) I. lx. 423 I am creditably [1748 credibly] informed of your incapacity.
1906 H. P. Collin Twentieth Cent. Hist. & Biogr. Rec. Branch County xxi. 167 It is creditably related that Miss Sargent was really the first teacher in Union City.
1937 Rotarian Aug. 57/2 I am creditably informed that this latter institution of learning has recently taken to importing tennis stars from Texas and Oklahoma.
2002 A. Campbell Hist. Clan Campbell II. vii. 193 A contract was drawn up..for a voyage in search of an island which, Lord Lorne had been creditably informed, lay beyond the Hebrides.
2. In a reputable or creditable manner; with credit. Now usually in weaker sense: commendably, but not necessarily outstandingly or successfully.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [adverb]
worthlyeOE
menskful?c1225
menskly?c1225
dignelyc1315
honestly1340
menskfullya1375
worshipfullya1375
worthilyc1384
creditably1648
reputablya1689
respectably1770
smirchless1848
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > praiseworthiness > [adverb]
worshipfullyc1350
a pricea1400
lovably?a1425
laudably1477
praisablya1525
commendably1531
thankworthily1553
praiseworthily1555
plausibly1589
recommendably1611
creditably1848
1648 T. Gage Eng.-Amer. xx. 162 I thought I could live in that Benefice creditably enough, and yet give from it more to the Cloister then ever any other before mee had given.
1664 Life in J. Mede's Wks. (rev. ed.) p. xlii Wherein the better sort think they..come off fair and creditably.
1666 R. South Serm. preached at Lambeth-Chappel 14 Rather to neglect their Duty safely and creditably, then to get a Broken Pate in the Churches Service.
1703 Athenian Oracle I. 420/1 They lived together creditably, quietly and comfortably, as any Couple in the World.
1791 Monthly Rev. Apr. 385 He has, very creditably to himself, and profitably to his readers, distributed their best hints and remarks through his Commentary.
1848 Southern Literary Messenger Aug. 481/2 All things promised well for my graduating creditably at the approaching May examination.
1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer (ed. 2) I. 22 Nino sang very creditably.
1925 Woman's World (Chicago) Apr. 52/3 (caption) Certainly the modern girl can be compared creditably with the lovely ladies of that other day.
1955 J. McPartland in N. Shapiro & N. Hentoff Hear me talkin' to Ya viii. 120 Within a few months, we could play nine or ten tunes creditably.
1997 Sporting Life 15 Feb. 46/1 Liverpool's Wayne Brown performed creditably about this time last year.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1646