Word of the Day

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

credulous

\KREJ-uh-lus\ , adjective;

Ready or inclined to believe on slight or uncertain evidence.

Based on or proceeding from a disposition to believe too readily.

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Quotes:

Credulous monarchs were easy game for the numerous charlatans and tricksters who toured the courts of Europe trying to dupe them into parting with real gold by means of little more than a promise that they would repay such investments thousandfold.

-- Janet Gleeson, The Arcanum

To her critics, she was a madam and con artist who charged credulous clients . . . small fortunes to cast spells and bring about the deaths of rivals.

-- Laurence Bergreen, Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life

And unless our educational system focuses more on teaching students how to think than on what to think, our populace will become increasingly credulous.

-- Theodore Schick Jr., "The End of Science?", Skeptical Inquirer, March/April 1997

Origin:

Credulous derives from Latin credulus, "believing easily," from credere, "to believe."