incredulous

incredulous
adjective Etymology: Latin incredulus, from in- + credulus credulous Date: 1579 1. unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true ; not credulous ; skeptical 2. incredible 1 3. expressing incredulity <
an incredulous stare
>
incredulously adverb Usage: Sense 2 was revived in the 20th century after a couple of centuries of disuse. Although it is a sense with good literary precedent—among others Shakespeare used it—many people think it is a result of confusion with incredible, which is still the usual word in this sense.

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Incredulous — In*cred u*lous (?; 135), a. [L. incredulus. See {In } not, and {Credulous}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Not credulous; indisposed to admit or accept that which is related as true, skeptical; unbelieving. Bacon. [1913 Webster] A fantastical incredulous… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • incredulous — (adj.) unbelieving, 1570s, from L. incredulus unbelieving, incredulous, from in not (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + credulus (see CREDULOUS (Cf. credulous)). Formerly also of religious beliefs. Related: Incredulously; incredulousness …   Etymology dictionary

  • incredulous — [in krej′oo ləs] adj. [L incredulus: see IN 2 & CREDULOUS] 1. unwilling or unable to believe; doubting; skeptical 2. showing doubt or disbelief [an incredulous look] incredulously adv …   English World dictionary

  • incredulous — I adjective disposed to doubt, distrustful, doubtful, doubting, dubious, hard to convince, incredulus, indisposed to believe, mistrustful, questioning, skeptical, slow to believe, suspecting, suspicious, unbelieving, unconvinced, untrusting,… …   Law dictionary

  • incredulous — [adj] unbelieving disbelieving, distrustful, doubtful, doubting, dubious, hesitant, mistrustful, questioning, quizzical, show me*, skeptical, suspect, suspicious, uncertain, unconvinced, unsatisfied, wary; concepts 403,529 Ant. believing,… …   New thesaurus

  • incredulous — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ unwilling or unable to believe. DERIVATIVES incredulity noun incredulously adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • incredulous — in|cred|u|lous [ınˈkredjuləs US dʒə ] adj unable or unwilling to believe something ▪ You sold the car? she asked, incredulous. incredulous look/expression/voice etc ▪ She shot him an incredulous look. >incredulously adv …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • incredulous — [[t]ɪnkre̱ʤʊləs[/t]] ADJ GRADED If someone is incredulous, they are unable to believe something because it is very surprising or shocking. He made you do it? Her voice was incredulous... There was a brief, incredulous silence. Derived words:… …   English dictionary

  • incredulous — adjective /ɪnˈkɹɛdjʊləs/ a) Skeptical, disbelieving, or unable to believe. Xodar listened in incredulous astonishment to my narration of the events which had transpired within the arena at the rites of Issus. b) Expressing or indicative of… …   Wiktionary

  • incredulous — incredulously, adv. incredulousness, n. /in krej euh leuhs/, adj. 1. not credulous; disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical. 2. indicating or showing unbelief: an incredulous smile. [1525 35; < L incredulus. See IN 3, CREDULOUS] Syn.… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”