Accredit

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /É™.ˈkrÉ›d.ɪt/

Origin

• First attested in the 1610's.
• From French accréditer, from à ("to") + créditer ("to credit"), from crédit ("credit").
• See credit.

Full definition of accredit

Verb

1. (transitive) To ascribe; attribute; credit with.
2. (transitive) To put or bring into credit; to invest with credit or authority; to sanction.
• unknown date William CowperHis censure will ... accredit his praises.
• unknown date Thomas SheltonThese reasons ... which accredit and fortify mine opinion.
3. (transitive) To send with letters credential, as an ambassador, envoy, or diplomatic agent; to authorize, as a messenger or delegate.
• unknown date James Anthony FroudeBeton ... was accredited to the Court of France. -
4. (transitive) To believe; to put trust in.
• unknown date G. C. LewisThe version of early Roman history which was accredited in the fifth century.
• unknown date Robert SoutheyHe accredited and repeated stories of apparitions and witchcraft.
5. (transitive) To enter on the credit side of an account book.
6. (transitive) To certify as meeting a predetermined standard; to certify an educational institution as upholding the specified standards necessary for the students to advance.The school was an accredited college.
7. (transitive) To recognize as outstanding.
8. (transitive, literally) To credit.

Derived terms

• accredit with
• accreditation
• accredited