Word Study Lesson 7 cred, credit = believe

Most of you may know the word credit from daily life if your parents shop with a credit card. You may also know the same word as a “school” term if your teachers offer extra credit. In each case, “belief” is the base meaning: a creditor lets you buy things on credit because they “believe” that you will pay the bill; a teacher who awards extra credit “believes” that you have earned extra points.

Most cred, credit words do not begin with prefixes. These bases provide an opportunity to draw your attention to suffixes. Two of the most common suffixes used with cred, credit are –or and –ible. Think back to the word creditor. A creditor is “one who” “believes” that the borrower will pay back loaned money; a credible statement is one “able to be” “believed.”

Turn to your partner and discuss the following questions: Why would it be incredible for a pig to fly? With your partner, come up with three more things that could be described as incredible. How would you define the word incredible?

Match each cred, credit word to a definition. credible, extra credit, creed, creditor, credentials 1.Someone who “believes” you will pay back money. 2.“Believable” 3. Additional points earned because the teacher “believes” you have earned them. 4.A declaration of “belief” 5.Documents that make people “believe” you are qualified.

incredible PrefixBase word Meaning in not cred believe Something that is hard to believe Did you see that incredible shot he made from mid-court to win the game?

discredit PrefixBase word Meaning dis not cred believe To make others not believe something or someone. When you misbehave, you discredit your good name.

accredited PrefixBase word Meaning ac to cred believe Believe in the strength of a school. When you go off to college, you want to make sure that you go to an accredited school.

credible Base meansSuffix means Meaning cred believe ible able to be Able to be believed. People who are known to tell the truth are considered credible.

creditor Base meansSuffix means Meaning cred believe tor one who Someone who believes you will pay back money borrowed. I received a call from my creditor offering to lower the rate on my credit card.

credentials Base meansSuffix means Meaning cred believe X Qualifications to do a good job and instill belief in something. That job applicant has all of the credentials required to do this job.

creed Base meansSuffix means Meaning cred believe X A statement of religious belief. Every Sunday morning, we recite the creed of the church stating what we believe.

credence Base meansSuffix means Meaning cred believe X A belief in something as true or real. I don’t put much credence in the existence of Bigfoot.

credulous Base meansSuffix means Meaning cred believe X Ready to believe easily, especially on uncertain evidence. Anyone who believes everything that they are told must be a credulous person.

credit Base meansSuffix means Meaning cred believe X Money given in advance with the belief that you will pay it back. Most people have to buy a house on credit because houses are very expensive.