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Swinton, William, 1833-1892

"New Word-Analysis Or, School Etymology of English Derivative Words"

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12. CRED'ERE: cre'do, cred'itum, _to believe_.
Radicals: CRED- and CREDIT-.
1. CREED: from the word _credo_, "I believe," at the beginning of the
Apostles' Creed: hence, a summary of Christian belief.
2. CRED'IBLE: cred + ible = that may be believed: hence, worthy of belief.
3. CRED'IT: from credit(um) = belief, trust: hence, (1) faith; (2)
reputation; (3) trust given or received.
4. CRED'ULOUS: through the Lat. adj. _credulus_, easy of belief: credul +
ous = abounding in belief: hence, believing easily.
5. DISCRED'IT: dis + credit = to _dis_believe.

EXERCISE.
(2.) Write a sentence containing the word "credible." MODEL: "When the King
of Siam was told that in Europe the water at certain seasons could be
walked on, he declared that the statement was not _credible_."--What single
word will express _not credible_?--Combine and define credible + ity.--Give
a synonym of "credible." _Ans. Trustworthy._--State the distinction. _Ans_.
"Credible" is generally applied to things, as "_credible_ testimony";
"trustworthy" to persons, as "a _trustworthy_ witness."
(3.) What is the meaning of _credit_ in the passage,
"John Gilpin was a citizen
Of _credit_ and renown"?
Give a synonym of this word. _Ans. Trust._--What is the distinction? _Ans_.
"Trust" looks forward; "credit" looks back--we _credit_ what has happened;
we _trust_ what is to happen.--What other part of speech than a noun is
"credit"?--Combine and define credit + ed.--Why is the _t_ not doubled?
(4.


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