- 1
Credulity is the readiness to believe that something is true — often a little too ready. If you have a lot of credulity, you swallow stories without asking enough questions.
CredulityCredulity(輕信) is the readiness to believe是一種容易相信的傾向 that something is true相信某件事是真的 — often a little too ready常常有點太容易相信了. If you have a lot of credulity如果你很輕信, you swallow stories你會照單全收各種說法 without asking enough questions而不多問問題.
News writers love the set phrase it strains credulity (or stretches credulity): the story is so unlikely that even a willing believer would struggle. It is a formal, slightly noun.
News writers love新聞寫作者很愛用 the set phrase這個固定說法 it strains credulity (or stretches credulity)「it strains credulity」(或stretches credulity，意思是「令人難以置信」): the story is so unlikely這個故事實在太不可能了 that even a willing believer would struggle連願意相信的人都很難信. It is a formal, slightly bookish noun它是一個正式、有點書面的名詞.
Though actually, the word is not always an insult; we all need some willingness to believe, or we could not learn from other people. The sting comes when that willingness has no brakes.
Though actually不過其實, the word is not always an insult這個詞不總是帶有貶意; we all need some willingness to believe我們都需要一些相信別人的意願, or we could not learn from other people否則我們就無法向別人學習. The sting comes問題就出在 when that willingness has no brakes當這種意願毫無節制的時候.
Do not mix it with credibility. Credibility belongs to the story or the speaker: can I trust them? Credulity belongs to the listener: do they believe too fast?
Do not mix it with不要把它和 credibilitycredibility(可信度)搞混. Credibility belongs toCredibility屬於 the story or the speaker故事或說話者: can I trust them我能信任他們嗎? Credulity belongs toCredulity屬於 the listener聽者: do they believe too fast他們是不是信得太快了?
組成From Middle English credulite, from Middle French credulité, from Latin crēdulitās. In English it matches credulous + -ity: the state of being credulous.
同家族的字
- credulousthe adjective this noun is built from
- incredulitythe opposite quality: stubborn unwillingness to believe
原始詞典資料2 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
credulitynoun/kɹɪˈd͡ʒuːlɪti/
- 1
A willingness to believe in someone or something in the absence of reasonable proof; credulousness.
- These testosterone thumpers have repackaged and exaggerated the study, with a credulity born of zealotry, into articles with shitposty titles like “Trust The Science: Study Links Left-Wing Politics to Lower Testosterone,” casting it as hard proof of their hormonal theories of healthy politics.
- 2
Faith, credence; acceptance or maintenance of a belief.
- Do you think Mr. Allworthy hath more contempt for money than other men because he professes more? Such credulity would better become one of us weak women, than that wise sex which heaven hath formed for politicians. Indeed, brother, you would make a fine plenipo to negotiate with the French.
- As Challenger spoke of his pterodactyl I glanced at Professor Summerlee, and for the first time I seemed to see some signs of a dawning credulity and repentance. There was no sneer upon his thin lips, but, on the contrary, a gray, drawn look of excitement and amazement. Challenger saw it, too, and reveled in the first taste of victory.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。