creed

Etymology

and the bishops of the First Council of Nicaea (325 C.E.) holding the Niceno–Constantinopolitan Creed of 381, an updated version of the Nicene Creed prepared by the First Council]] From Middle English crede, from Old English crēda, crēdo, from Latin crēdō (“I believe”), from Proto-Italic *krezdō, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱred dʰeh₁- (“to place one's heart, i.e., to trust, believe”), a compound phrase of the oblique case form of *ḱḗr (“heart”). Creed is cognate with Old Irish cretim (“to believe”), Sanskrit श्रद्दधाति (śráddadhāti, “to have faith or faithfulness, to have belief or confidence, believe”). Doublet of shraddha.

noun

1. That which is believed; accepted doctrine, especially religious doctrine; a particular set of beliefs; any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered to.
   He killed our tribes he killed our creed. / He took our game for his own need 12 February 1982, Steve Harris (lyrics and music), “Run to the Hills”, performed by Iron Maiden
   Pakistan is a conservative, religious state. The Edhi Foundation is unusual in its ignoring of caste, creed, religion and sect. This strict stance has led to some criticism from religious groups. 6 April 2017, Samira Shackle, “On the frontline with Karachi’s ambulance drivers”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 2017-06-29
2. (specifically, religion) A reading or statement of belief that summarizes the faith it represents; a confession of faith for public use, especially one which is brief and comprehensive.
   A creed is a manifesto of religious or spiritual beliefs
   [N]ow ſuch a liue vngodly, vvithout a care of doing the wil of the Lord (though they profeſſe him in their mouths, yea though they beleeue and acknowledge all the Articles of the Creed, yea haue knowledge of the Scripturs) yet if they liue vngodly, they deny God, and therefore ſhal be denied, […] 1604, Jeremy Corderoy, A Short Dialogve, wherein is Proved, that No Man can be Saved without Good VVorkes, 2nd edition, Oxford: Printed by Ioseph Barnes, and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Crowne, by Simon Waterson, →OCLC, page 40
   The Apostles' Creed was not the only creed to come into existence in the period of the early church. However, it is the oldest and simplest creed of the church. All Christian traditions recognize its authority and its importance as a standard of doctrine. To study the Apostles' Creed is to investigate a central element of our common Christian heritage. 2015, Alister [Edgar] McGrath, “Getting the Most out of Apostles’ Creed”, in Apostles’ Creed (LifeGuide Bible Studies), Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, page 6
3. (rare) The fact of believing; belief, faith.
   Oh love! how perfect is thy mystic art, / Strengthening the weak, and trampling on the strong, / How self-deceitful is the sagest part / Of mortals whom thy lure hath led along— / The precipice she stood on was immense, / So was her creed in her own innocence. 1819, [Lord Byron], “Canto I”, in Don Juan, London: Printed by Thomas Davison, Whitefriars, →OCLC, stanza CVI, page 56

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive, obsolete, only survives in "creeded") To believe; to credit.
   Only this I marvelled, and other men have since, whenas I, in a ſubject ſo new to this age, and ſo hazardous to pleaſe, concealed not my name, why this author, defending that part which is ſo creeded by the people, would conceal his. 4 March 1645, J[ohn] M[ilton], Colasterion: A Reply to a Nameles Ansvver against The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce. Wherein the Trivial Author of that Answer is Discover’d, the Licencer Conferr’d with, and the Opinion which They Traduce Defended, [London: Printed by Matthew Simmons?], →OCLC; republished in The Works of John Milton, Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous. Now More Correctly Printed from the Originals, than in Any Former Edition, and may Passages Restored, which have been hitherto Omitted. To which is Prefixed, an Account of His Life and Writings [by Thomas Birch]. In Two Volumes, volume I, London: Printed for A[ndrew] Millar, in the Strand, 1753, →OCLC, page 326
   And ſo, no doubt, were his other Preferments as acceptable, which did require ſuch Athanaſsian Subſcriptions, &c. and which he in an Athanaſian Form ſubſcrib'd, creeded, and worſhip'd for till his dying-day. 1731, Simon Scriblerus [pseudonym], Whistoneutes: Or, Remarks on Mr. Whiston’s Historical Memoirs of the Life of Dr. Samuel Clarke, &c., London: Printed for T. Warner, at th Black-Boy in Pater-Noster-Row, →OCLC, page 42
   'I was n't for creeding me awn e'en,' believing my own eyes.] [1873, John Harland, “Creed”, in A Glossary of Words Used in Swaledale, Yorkshire (Series C (Original Glossaries, and Glossaries with Fresh Editions); 4), London: Published for the English Dialect Society, by Trübner & Co., 57 & 59, Ludgate Hill, →OCLC, page 45
2. (intransitive) To provide with a creed.
   The poor like Priests—Priests utilise the poor; / High Church the common people feeding / Exclaims—"You Low Church indolents observe / How we go about leavening and creeding!" 1872, “The Survivor” [pseudonym; Walter Rowton], “Part the Fourth”, in Hal and I. In Four Parts, London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, →OCLC, page 122
   Especially in the studies of religions less creeded than Christianity scholars have long insisted on the importance in religion of sacred stories. 1977, Peter Slater, “Religion as Story: The Biography of Norman Bethune”, in Peter Slater, editor, Religion and Culture in Canada = Religion et Culture au Canada, Toronto, Ont.: Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion, page 290