accredit

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

• (US) IPA^(key): /ə.ˈkɹɛd.ɪt/

• Audio (US)

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accredit (third-person singular simple present accredits, present participle accrediting, simple past and past participle accredited)

1. (transitive) To ascribe; attribute; credit with.
2. (transitive) To put or bring into credit; to invest with credit or authority; to sanction.
   • (Can we date this quote?) William Cowper

     His censure will […] accredit his praises.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Thomas Shelton

     these 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.
   • (Can we date this quote?) James Anthony Froude

     Beton […] was accredited to the Court of France.

4. (transitive) To believe; to put trust in.
   • (Can we date this quote?) G. C. Lewis

     The version of early Roman history which was accredited in the fifth century.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Robert Southey

     He 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.

• accredit with
• accreditation
• accredited