a. [f. CREDIT v. and sb. + -ABLE. (No corresp. Fr. word.)]
† 1. Worthy to be believed; credible. Obs.
1526. Frith, Disput. Purgatory, 192. ‘Neither it is creditable,’ (saith he) ‘that all which are cast into hell should straightway go to heaven, therefore must we put a purgatory.’
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. Pref. § 43. Records farre more creditable then these.
1669. Woodhead, St. Teresa, I. Pref. (1671), a. Persons, sufficiently creditable, and perfectly informed.
1760. Winthrop, in Phil. Trans., LII. 8. The most distinct account I have had of it, was from a creditable person at Roxbury.
1807–8. W. Irving, Salmag., xi. (1860), 252. A church-yard, which at least a hundred creditable persons would swear was haunted.
† b. Comm. Worthy of receiving credit (commercially); having good credit. Obs.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., I. II. ii. 307. The creditable traders of any country.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. viii. 670. On receiving the security of creditable bankers for the balance which the Nabob owed to the Company.
1822. J. Flint, Lett. fr. Amer., 108. Banks that were creditable a few days ago, have refused to redeem their paper in specie.
2. That brings credit or honor; that does one credit; reputable. Often implying a slighter degree of praise or excellence: Respectable (see c).
1659. Gentl. Calling (1696), 31. It is become a creditable thing, the badge and signature of a modern Wit, thus to be one of David’s Fools, in saying, There is no God.
1691. Hartcliffe, Virtues, 89. Whatsoever is just, honest, and Creditable.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xix. Did he not maintain an honest house … and keep a creditable board?
1840. Macaulay, Clive, 62. Clive made a creditable use of his riches.
1884. Law Rep. 13 Q. Bench Div. 615. The father … was not … leading a creditable life.
b. That does credit to.
1797. Bewick, Brit. Birds (1847), I. 231. Mr. Selby’s splendid work on ornithology, so creditable to his zeal in the cause of Science.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 43. The places … were filled in a manner creditable to the government.
† c. Respectable, decent (a) in appearance or quality; (b) in social position or character. Obs.
1688. Miége, Fr. Dict., s.v., This suit of yours is a creditable Suit, Cet Habit est honnête.
1741. Richardson, Pamela, II. 352. A creditable Silk for my dear Mother.
1765. Goldsm., Ess., xxv. 224. This gentleman was born of creditable parents, who gave him a very good education.
1779. J. Moore, View Soc. Fr., II. xcv. 426. A Frenchman in a creditable way of life.
1825. Mrs. Cameron, Proper Spirit, in Houlston Tracts, I. ix. 7. To set a poor lad, like you, to teach creditable children.
1860. Gen. P. Thompson, Audi Alt., III. cv. 14. It was once my fortune to serve with two Russian midshipmen; very creditable lads they were.
