credulity

credulity
noun /kɹɪˈdjuːlɪti/
a) A willingness to believe in someone or something in the absence of reasonable proof; credulousness.

Do you think Mr. Allworthy hath more contempt for money than other men because he professes more? Such credulity would better become one of us weak women, than that wise sex which heaven hath formed for politicians. Indeed, brother, you would make a fine plenipo to negotiate with the French.

b) The quality of being credible or worthy of belief; credence.

As Challenger spoke of his pterodactyl I glanced at Professor Summerlee, and for the first time I seemed to see some signs of a dawning credulity and repentance. There was no sneer upon his thin lips, but, on the contrary, a gray, drawn look of excitement and amazement. Challenger saw it, too, and reveled in the first taste of victory.


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  • Credulity — is a state of willingness to believe in one or many people or things in the absence of reasonable proof or knowledge. Credulity is not simply belief in something that may be false. The subject of the belief may even be correct, but a credulous… …   Wikipedia

  • Credulity — Cre*du li*ty (kr? d? l? t?), n. [L. credulitas, fr. credulus: cf. F. cr[ e]dulit[ e]. See {Credulous}.] Readiness of belief; a disposition to believe on slight evidence. [1913 Webster] That implict credulity is the mark of a feeble mind will not… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • credulity — I noun belief, blind faith, credulitas, credulousness, deceivability, disposition to believe, easiness of belief, foolishness, gullibility, gullibleness, impressibility, innocence, lack of doubt, lack of dubiety, lack of dubiousness, lack of… …   Law dictionary

  • credulity — early 15c., from O.Fr. credulité (12c.), from L. credulitatem (nom. credulitas) easiness of belief, rash confidence, noun of quality from credulus (see CREDULOUS (Cf. credulous)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • credulity — gullibility (see under CREDULOUS) Analogous words: credence, credit, *belief Antonyms: incredulity: skepticism Contrasted words: *uncertainty, doubt, suspicion, mistrust …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • credulity — [krə do͞o′lə tē, krədyo͞o′lə tē] n. [ME credulite < OFr < L credulitas < credulus: see CREDULOUS] a tendency to believe too readily, esp. with little or no proof; lack of doubt …   English World dictionary

  • Credulity — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Credulity >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 credulity credulity credulousness &c. >Adj. Sgm: N 1 gullible gullible cullibility Sgm: N 1 gross credulity gross credulity infatuation Sgm: N 1 self delusion self delusion …   English dictionary for students

  • credulity — cre|du|li|ty [krıˈdju:lıti US ˈdu: ] n [U] formal willingness or ability to believe that something is true ▪ Advertisers were accused of exploiting consumers credulity. strain/stretch credulity (=seem very difficult to believe) ▪ It strained… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • credulity — noun (U) willingness or ability to believe that something is true: childish credulity | strain/stretch credulity: This explanation strained my credulity too far …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • credulity — noun VERB + CREDULITY ▪ strain, stretch ▪ The plot of the novel stretches credulity to the limit …   Collocations dictionary

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