crédibilis

crēdibilis is a Latin adjective meaning credible, trustworthy, or able to be believed. It is formed from the verb crēdere, to believe, with the suffix -bilis, which conveys potential or capacity. In Latin, the sense centers on reliability or believability of statements, reports, or persons.

Etymology and cognates: crēdibilis derives from crēd- “believe” combined with -bilis “able to be,” producing the sense “worthy of belief.” The term has cognates in the Romance languages, such as Italian credibile, French crédible, Spanish creíble, and Portuguese crível, all sharing the core idea of believability or plausibility.

Usage and semantics: In classical Latin, crēdibilis is used to describe things or persons whose reliability is affirmed, for example, a crēdibilis testis (a credible witness) or a crēdibilis nuntius (a trustworthy messenger). It can also apply to narratives, reports, or sources whose accuracy is considered plausible. In ecclesiastical and medieval Latin, the word appears in theological and legal discussions about the credibility of testimonies and miracles. In modern Latin scholarship, crēdibilis often functions as a direct translation for the English “credible” or “believable,” and is encountered in translations, glossaries, and scholarly discussions of Latin rhetoric and evidence.

Attestation and references: crēdibilis is listed in standard Latin lexica such as the Lewis and Short Latin Dictionary, which document its sense as “worthy of belief; credible.” The form is frequently encountered in classical Latin texts and continues to appear in academic discussions of Latin vocabulary and translation.

See also: credibility, credible, believability, Latin adjectives.