credito Italian · revision 39173

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1309–1310, Sienese statute|origins=la crēdō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈkre.di.to/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''credito''' ''m'' (plural crediti)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|crēditum|t=something entrusted; a loan]], the neuter past participle of [[m|la|crēdō|t=to trust, entrust; to believe]], used as a noun.^(GRADIT 2003)^(GDLI)^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(DELI 1999) Prati notes that it came in through the written language, and that [[creditore]] is likewise Latin [[m|la|creditor]].^(Prati 1951|345)

+

+ Italian, the language of medieval banking, passed the word on: [[fr|crédit]] is recorded from 1489–91 in the sense “standing, esteem” and, from 1675 in the financial sense, and [[de|Kredit]] from 1477;^(DIFIT)^(Wiktionary) German dictionaries trace it through French to Italian.^(DIFIT)^(Wiktionary) [[en|credit]], from the 1540s, came through French from Italian.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) The same word is [[es|crédito]], [[pt|crédito]] and [[ca|crèdit]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The Latin verb is an old compound, Proto-Indo-European [[m|ine-pro|*ḱred-dʰeh₁-|t=to place in the heart, believe]], with cognates in [[sa|श्रद्धा|tr=śraddhā́|t=confidence, faith]] and [[sga|creitid|t=believes]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first record, in the TLIO and Nocentini, is a Sienese statute of 1309–10, where ''credito'' is the right to collect a sum of money.^(TLIO)^(Nocentini 2010) DELI's first record of the economic sense, a transaction in which payment is made later, is in Boccaccio in 1353.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian used ''credito'' for a sum owed, a loan, an act of belief and the trust someone enjoyed, especially in money matters.^(TLIO) The sense “belief, being believed” is in the 14th-century ''Ottimo commento'' on Dante, and the phrases ''dar credito'' “to believe” and ''aver credito'' “to be believed” come from it.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) The sense “good name, public esteem” is in Vespasiano da Bisticci before 1498.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ From banking the word went into law, economics and public finance: ''credito pubblico'' is the capital the state borrows against interest.^(GDLI)^(GRADIT 2003) Recent uses include ''carta di credito'' and the credits of school and university study, after the American model.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1309–1310 – A Sienese statute uses ''credito'' for a sum one is owed.^(TLIO)^(Nocentini 2010)

+ * 1353 – Boccaccio uses the word for a credit transaction.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 14th century – The ''Ottimo commento'' uses ''credito'' for “belief”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1477 – German ''Kredit'' is recorded in the sense “good reputation”.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1489–1491 – French ''crédit'' “standing, esteem” is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * Before 1498 – Vespasiano da Bisticci uses ''credito'' for “good name, public esteem”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1540s – English ''credit'' “belief, faith” is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|reputation]], esteem, trust: ''Dopo lo scandalo il giornale ha perso ogni credito.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Belief, credence: ''dare credito a una voce''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GDLI)

+ # ''(economics)'' [[m|en|credit]]: an exchange in which a good, usually money, is given now against a promise of later payment; the sale of goods with payment deferred: ''In questo negozio non si fa credito.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' The right to receive a payment; the sum one is owed: ''Ho un credito di mille euro verso di lui.''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Banking and lending as an economic activity, and the sector that carries it out: ''istituto di credito''.^(GRADIT 2003)

+ # ''(education)'' A credit, a unit of study counted towards a qualification: ''crediti formativi''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[accreditare]]

+ * [[creditizio]]

+ * [[discredito]]

+ * [[screditare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[credere]]

+ * [[creditore]]

+ * [[debito]]

+ * [[la|crēditum]]

+ * [[fr|crédit]]

+ * [[en|credit]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Essere in credito'' is to be owed something, the opposite of being in [[debito]].^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) ''Comprare a credito'' is to buy without paying at once.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}