a. Also 5 credeable, 5–6 credyble, 6 credabull. [ad. L. crēdibilis worthy to be believed, f. crēd-ĕre to believe: see -BLE. Also in 15–16th c. F. croidible, crédible.]
1. Capable of being believed; believable: a. of assertions.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. iv. 124. Al be it so þat þis ne seme nat credible þing perauenture to somme folk.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vi. The mortall harme … That is well more then it is credible.
1594. [see CREDIBILITY].
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. ii. 7. Than right reason makes that which they say, appear credible.
1798. Ferriar, Varieties of Man, in Illustr. Sterne, 211. Who had the fate to be disbelieved in every credible assertion.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. I. xi. 130. When the falsehood ceased to be credible the system which was based upon it collapsed.
b. of matters of fact: with impersonal const.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 165 b. And it is to suppose, & credyble to byleue that [etc.].
1563. Fulke, Meteors (1640), 52. Some would make it seeme credible, that of vapours and Exhalations … a calfe might be made in the clouds.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., xlix. 195. No news could be heard of her, which made it credible that she also suffered shipwrack.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., vi. (1700), 81. It is not all credible that an Imposture of this kind could have passed upon all the Christian Churches.
2. Worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthy, reliable: † a. of information, evidence, etc. Obs.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 170. Among the kinges in the bible I finde a tale and is credible Of him.
1426. Paston Lett., No. 7, I. 25. I herde … no maner lykly ne credible evidence.
1513. More, Rich. III., Wks. 37/2. This haue I by credible informacion learned.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, I. ii. 4. So tis reported sir … Nay tis most credible.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., IV. (1682), 139. It is holden to be so credible as if an Oracle had spoken it.
b. of persons. (Now somewhat arch., exc. in ‘credible witness’ or the like.)
1478. Sir J. Paston, Lett., No. 814, III. 222. Any suche credyble man maye, iff he wyll, wytnesse ther-in with me.
1502. Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 125. Promysing feithfully in the presence of credyble persones.
1549. Crowley, Last Trump, 1370. Though the euidence be playne And the accusates credible.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., iii. 40. Observations from credible Authors.
1722. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), I. Pref. 11. Which I noted down from the mouth of credible persons.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), II. 473. I have been informed by a credible person that [etc.].
† 3. Ready, willing or inclined to believe. Obs.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 1087. Þuse men weren credeable of Seynt Edus godenasse.
c. 1440. Lydg., Secrees, 1060. Nat lyghtly to be Credyble To Talys that make discencion.
1623. Cockeram, II. A iiij b. One too much Beleeuing, Credulous, Credible.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethics, xv. 217. There is a fair way laid open to the credible of such objects attested and revealed with such circumstances.
† 4. Having or deserving credit or repute; of good repute, creditable, reputable. Obs.
1631. Milton, Lett., in Wks. (ed. Birch 1738), I. 4. To which nothing is more helpful than the early entring into some credible Employment.
1647. Lilly, Chr. Astrol., xxix. 191. He is in good estimation and lives in a credible way.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, II. iii. A good credible way of living.
