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definitions

credence

[kreed-ns]
|

noun

belief as to the truth of something: to give credence to a claim.
something giving a claim to belief or confidence: letter of credence.
Also called credence table, credenza. Ecclesiastical. a small side table, shelf, or niche for holding articles used in the Eucharist service.
Furniture. credenza(def 1).

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Nearby words

  1. creature feature,
  2. creaturely,
  3. creb,
  4. creche,
  5. cred,
  6. credence table,
  7. credendum,
  8. credent,
  9. credential,
  10. credentialism

Origin of credence

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French credence < Medieval Latin crēdentia. See credent, -ence
SYNONYMS FOR credence
1. credit, faith, confidence.
Related formsnon·cre·dence, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for credence table

credence table

noun

a small sideboard, originally one at which food was tasted for poison before serving
Christianity a small table or ledge on which the bread, wine, etc, are placed before being consecrated in the Eucharist

credence

noun

acceptance or belief, esp with regard to the truth of the evidence of othersI cannot give credence to his account
something supporting a claim to belief; recommendation; credential (esp in the phrase letters of credence)
short for credence table

Word Origin for credence

C14: from Medieval Latin crēdentia trust, credit, from Latin crēdere to believe
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for credence table

credence

n.

mid-14c., from Medieval Latin credentia "belief," from Latin credentum (nominative credens), past participle of credere "believe, trust" (see credo).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper