credulous English · revision 1582

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɹɛd͡ʒələs/, /ˈkɹɛdjələs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|crēdulus|t=that easily believes, trustful]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[la|crēdere|t=to believe]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) with the suffix [[-ous]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Over-ready to believe, apt to believe on weak grounds (1576).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The neutral sense “ready to believe” (1579) is now rare;^(OED 1989) the word almost always implies believing too easily.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) From 1648 it was also applied to things arising from credulity.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * probably before 1425 – ''credulity''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1576 – over-ready to believe.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1579 – ready to believe, now rare.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1648 – of things, arising from credulity.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Too ready to believe, especially on slight evidence; [[gullible]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Arising from or showing [[credulity]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[credulously]]

+ * [[credulousness]]

+ * [[credulity]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[incredulous]]

+ * [[credo]]

+ * [[creed]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''believing'', ''trustful'' and ''unsuspecting'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}