Credit
/ˈkrɛd.ɪt/noun
The ability to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future.
Did you know?In ancient Rome, 'creditum' referred not just to financial trust, but also to a spiritual belief in the integrity of one’s word, linking finance with morality.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kred-
“to believe, trust, or have faith.”
Latin
Latin
creditum
“a loan, something entrusted.”
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
creditus
“believed, trusted.”
14th Century
Old French
crédit
“trust or belief in someone’s ability to repay.”
Late 14th Century
Middle English
credit
“the state of being trusted to pay back borrowed money.”
Modern English
English
credit
“the ability to borrow money based on trust.”