different between credence vs credulity

English

Etymology

From Middle English credence, from Old French credence, from Medieval Latin cr?dentia (“belief, faith”), from Latin cr?d?ns, present active participle of cr?d? (“loan, confide in, trust, believe”). Compare French croyance, French créance, Italian credenza, Portuguese crença, Romanian credin??, Spanish creencia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?i?.d?ns/

Noun

credence (countable and uncountable, plural credences)

1. (uncountable) Acceptance of a belief or claim as true, especially on the basis of evidence.

   Based on the scientific data, I give credence to this hypothesis.

2. (rare, uncountable) Credential or supporting material for a person or claim.

   He presented us with a letter of credence.

3. (religion, countable) A small table or credenza used in certain Christian religious services.
4. (countable) A cupboard, sideboard, or cabinet, particularly one intended for the display of rich vessels or plate on open shelves.

Related terms

• credential
• credibility
• lend credence to

Translations

Verb

credence (third-person singular simple present credences, present participle credencing, simple past and past participle credenced)

1. (obsolete) To give credence to; to believe.

Translations

References

• Webster, Noah (1828) , “credence”, in An American Dictionary of the English Language
• credence in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• “credence” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.

Old French

Alternative forms

• credance

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin credentia. Compare croiance, creance.

Noun

credence f (oblique plural credences, nominative singular credence, nominative plural credences)

1. faith; confidence

English

Etymology

From Middle English credulite (“faith, belief”), borrowed from Old French credulité (French crédulité), from Latin cr?dulit?s.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k???dju?l?ti/

Noun

credulity (countable and uncountable, plural credulities)

1. (obsolete) Belief.
2. A willingness to believe in someone or something in the absence of reasonable proof; credulousness.

   Synonym: gullibility

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The history of Tom Jones, Book 6,

     Do you think Mr. Allworthy hath more contempt for money than other men because he professes more? Such credulity would better become one of us weak women, than that wise sex which heaven hath formed for politicians. Indeed, brother, you would make a fine plenipo to negotiate with the French.

   • 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World, ch. 9,

     As Challenger spoke of his pterodactyl I glanced at Professor Summerlee, and for the first time I seemed to see some signs of a dawning credulity and repentance. There was no sneer upon his thin lips, but, on the contrary, a gray, drawn look of excitement and amazement. Challenger saw it, too, and reveled in the first taste of victory.

Antonyms

• incredulity

Derived terms

• incredulity
• miscredulity
• overcredulity

Related terms

Translations

References

• Webster, Noah (1828) , “credulity”, in An American Dictionary of the English Language
• credulity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• “credulity” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.
• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928) , “Credulity”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume II (C), London: Clarendon Press, OCLC 15566697, page 1157, column 1.