incredible English · revision 4194

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1412|origins=la credere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪnˈkred.ə.bəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|incredible]],^(AHD 2000)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|la|incrēdibilis|t=not to be believed, extraordinary]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from in- “not” and [[m|la|crēdibilis|t=worthy of belief]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the source of [[credible]], from crēdere “to believe”.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[credit]], [[creed]] and [[incredulous]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Unbelievable, surpassing belief as to what is possible”: 1412–20 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A now extinct sense, “unbelieving, incredulous”, was used about 1400,^(Etymonline) 1557 in the OED, and lasted to the mid-18th century.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) The weakened sense, “hard to believe; of exceedingly great quantity or quality, surprising”, is from 1482,^(OED 1989) now colloquial.^(SOED 2002) As a noun, an incredible thing, it is from 1610.^(OED 1989) ''Incredibly'' is from the late 15th century,^(SOED 2002) and ''incredibleness'' from the early 17th.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1412 – beyond belief.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1482 – astonishing, extraordinary.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1557 – unbelieving.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610 – noun, an incredible thing.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # So implausible as to cause disbelief; [[unbelievable]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' Astonishing; extraordinary: ''an incredible view''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[incredibility]]

+ * [[incredibly]]

+ * [[incredibleness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[credibility]]

+ * [[creed]]

+ * [[credible]]

+ * [[credit]]

+ * [[incredulous]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}