Part 648

2. Believed too readily. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Cred"u*lous*ly, adv. With credulity.

Cred"u*lous*ness, n. Readiness to believe on slight evidence; credulity.

Beyond all credulity is the credulousness of atheists. S. Clarke.

Creed (krēd), n. [OE. credo, crede, AS. creda, fr. L. credo I believe, at the beginning of the Apostles' creed, fr. credere to believe; akin to OIr. cretim I believe, and Skr. šraddadhāmi; šrat trust + dhā to put. See Do, v. t., and cf. Credo, Grant.] 1. A definite summary of what is believed; esp., a summary of the articles of Christian faith; a confession of faith for public use; esp., one which is brief and comprehensive.

In the Protestant system the creed is not co÷rdinate with, but always subordinate to, the Bible. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.

2. Any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered to.

I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed. Shak.

Apostles' creed, Athanasian creed, Nicene creed. See under Apostle, Athanasian, Nicene.

Creed, v. t. To believe; to credit. [Obs.]

That part which is so creeded by the people. Milton.

Creed"less, a. Without a creed. Carlyle.

Creek (krēk), n. [AS. crecca; akin to D. kreek, Icel. kriki crack, nook; cf. W. crig crack, crigyll ravine, creek. Cf. Crick, Crook.] 1. A small inlet or bay, narrower and extending further into the land than a cove; a recess in the shore of the sea, or of a river.

Each creek and cavern of the dangerous shore. Cowper.

They discovered a certain creek, with a shore. Acts xxvii. 39.

2. A stream of water smaller than a river and larger than a brook.

Lesser streams and rivulets are denominated creeks. Goldsmith.

3. Any turn or winding.

The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands. Shak.

Creek"fish (kr?k"f?sh), n. (Zo÷l.) The chub sucker.

Creeks (krēks), n. pl.; sing. Creek. (Ethnol.) A tribe or confederacy of North American Indians, including the Muskogees, Seminoles, Uchees, and other subordinate tribes. They formerly inhabited Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.

Creek"y (krēk"&ybreve;), a. Containing, or abounding in, creeks; characterized by creeks; like a creek; winding. "The creeky shore." Spenser.

Creel (krēl), n. [Gael. craidhleag basket, creel.]

1. An osier basket, such as anglers use. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Spinning) A bar or set of bars with skewers for holding paying-off bobbins, as in the roving machine, throstle, and mule.

Creep (krēp), v. t. [imp. Crept (kr&ebreve;pt) (Crope (krōp), Obs.); p. p. Crept; p. pr. & vb. n. Creeping.] [OE. crepen, creopen, AS. creˇpan; akin to D. kruipen, G. kriechen, Icel. krjupa, Sw. krypa, Dan. krybe. Cf. Cripple, Crouch.] 1. To move along the ground, or on any other surface, on the belly, as a worm or reptile; to move as a child on the hands and knees; to crawl.

Ye that walk The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep. Milton.

2. To move slowly, feebly, or timorously, as from unwillingness, fear, or weakness.