credence

views updated May 29 2018

credence
A. †trust, confidence, credit; belief XIV.

B. †assaying of food XV; †sideboard for dishes, etc. XVI; (eccl.) in full credence table, side table near an altar for holding vessels XIX. — (O)F. crédence — medL. crēdentia (whence It. credenza, the source of F. crédence in the senses under B above), f. crēdēns, crēdent-, prp. of L. crēdere believe; see -ENCE.
So credential recommending or entitling to credit, esp. in letters credential, c. letters XVI; sb. pl. XVII. — medL. crēdentiālis; see -IAL. credible believable, reliable. XIV. — L. crēdibilis; see -IBLE. So credibility XVI. — medL. credit faith, trust; (favourable) repute; power based on confidence; confidence in or reputation of solvency XVI; sum at one's disposal in a bank XVII; acknowledgement of payment (hence fig. phr. give a person credit for) XVIII. — F. crédit — It. credito or L. crēditum thing entrusted to one, loan, n. pp. of crēdere. Hence, or f. pp. crēdit- of crēdere, credit vb. put trust in; †do credit to XVI; enter on the credit side of an account XVII; ascribe to XIX. So creditor XV. — AN. creditour, (O)F. créditeur — L. crēditor; see -OR 1.

credence

views updated May 29 2018

cre·dence / ˈkrēdns/ • n. 1. belief in or acceptance of something as true: psychoanalysis finds little credence among laymen. ∎  the likelihood of something being true; plausibility: being called upon by the media as an expert lends credence to one's opinions.2. [usu. as adj.] a small side table, shelf, or niche in a church for holding the elements of the Eucharist before they are consecrated: a credence table.PHRASES: give credence to accept as true.

credence

views updated Jun 27 2018

credence. Table or shelf (called prothesis) on the south side of the sanctuary of a church, near the altar (where the Sacred Elements were placed before the Oblation), often given architectural treatment, and sometimes associated with the piscina.

Credence

views updated Jun 11 2018

Credence. A small table or shelf in the sanctuary of a church near the altar, to hold the bread, wine, and water to be used at the eucharist.

Credence

views updated May 29 2018

Credence

of sewers, 1486 [from sewer a servant in charge of serving fingerbowls at the table].