CREDENCE

credenza, credence

(noun) a kind of sideboard or buffet

credence, acceptance

(noun) the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true; “he gave credence to the gossip”; “acceptance of Newtonian mechanics was unquestioned for 200 years”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

credence (countable and uncountable, plural credences)

(uncountable) Acceptance of a belief or claim as true, especially on the basis of evidence.

(rare, uncountable) Credential or supporting material for a person or claim.

(religion, countable) A small table or credenza used in certain Christian religious services.

(countable) A cupboard, sideboard, or cabinet, particularly one intended for the display of rich vessels or plate on open shelves.

Verb

credence (third-person singular simple present credences, present participle credencing, simple past and past participle credenced)

(obsolete) To give credence to; to believe.

Source: Wiktionary

Cre"dence (kr"dens), n. Etym: [LL. credentia, fr. L. credens, -entis, p. pr. of credere to trust, believe: cf. OF. credence. See Creed, and cf. Credent, Creance.]

1. Reliance of the mind on evidence of facts derived from other sources than personal knowledge; belief; credit; confidence. To give credence to the Scripture miracles. Trench. An assertion which might easily find credence. Macualay.

2. That which gives a claim to credit, belief, or confidence; as, a letter of credence.

3. (Eccl.)

Definition: The small table by the side of the altar or communion table, on which the bread and wine are placed before being consecrated.

4. A cupboard, sideboard, or cabinet, particularly one intended for the display of rich vessels or plate, and consisting chiefly of open shelves for that purpose.

Cre"dence, v. t.

Definition: To give credence to; to believe. [Obs.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition