creed

Where does the word "creed" come from? It comes from Latin credere, passing through Latin and Old English before entering English (1100s).

Creed’s story begins in Latin: credere meant “to believe, to trust.” The root of 'credit', 'credible' and 'incredible'. Within Latin, it grew into credo by ancient. I believe, the opening word of statements of religious belief. From there it passed into Old English as creda by old english. The Latin creed opened 'Credo in unum Deum', I believe in one God. It reached English by 1100s as creed. Settled as the modern English word for a set of guiding beliefs or principles. Today, creed means a formal statement or set of guiding beliefs and principles.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient credere "to believe, to trust", the root of 'credit', 'credible' and 'incredible'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient credo "I believe", I believe, the opening word of statements of religious belief.
3. Stage 3 · Old English · old english creda "a formal statement of belief", the Latin creed opened 'Credo in unum Deum', I believe in one God.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1100s creed "a set of guiding beliefs or principles", settled as the modern English word for a set of guiding beliefs or principles.