accredit
UK: əˈkrɛdɪt | US: əˈkrɛdɪt
vt. to officially recognize or approve someone or something as meeting certain standards
vt. to attribute or credit (an action or quality) to someone
vt. to authorize or certify (e.g., an institution or individual)
accredit = ac<to> + credit<trust>
- ac<to>: Prefix from Latin ad- (meaning "to," "toward"), assimilated to ac- before c.
- credit<trust>: Root from Latin credere (meaning "to believe" or "to trust"), via Old French crediter.
Etymology Origin:
The word accredit emerged in the early 17th century, combining the Latin prefix ac- (indicating direction) with credit (rooted in trust or belief). It originally meant "to give trust or authority to," reflecting its legal and institutional use today. The progression from "belief" to "official certification" mirrors societal systems formalizing trust (e.g., accrediting schools or diplomats).
The university was accredited by the national education board.
Historians accredit the discovery to an unknown scientist.
The agency will accredit only those labs meeting strict standards.
She was accredited with pioneering the new research method.
The journalist was accredited to cover the presidential event.