incredible

Where does the word "incredible" come from? It comes from Latin credere, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Incredible’s story begins in Latin: credere meant “to believe, to trust.” To believe, to trust, combined with in- (not). Within Latin, it grew into incredibilis by ancient. Not able to be believed, from in- and credibilis. It reached English by 1400s as incredible. Settled as the English word for something impossible or hard to believe. Today, incredible means so extraordinary that it is difficult to believe.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient credere "to believe, to trust", to believe, to trust, combined with in- (not).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient incredibilis "not able to be believed", not able to be believed, from in- and credibilis.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s incredible "impossible or very hard to believe", settled as the English word for something impossible or hard to believe.