Also 5–6 credytour, 6 -or, 5–7 creditour. [In 15th c. creditour, a. Anglo-Fr. creditour = OF. crediteur, credeteur (early 14th c. in Godef.). The OF. word had become obs. in 16–17th c., but it reappeared in Savary Dict. du Comm. 1723, and was admitted by the Academy in 1878.]

1

  1.  One who gives credit for money or goods; one to whom a debt is owing; correlative to debtor.

2

1447.  Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 158. Than ask I … wych of these tuo Dettours the credytour was moste holdyn to.

3

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 14. Make satisfacion to your creditours.

4

1513.  More, Rich. III., in Grafton, Chron., II. 770. Now unthriftes riott and runne in debt … and byd their creditors go whistle.

5

1633.  Earl Manch., Al Mondo (1636), 23. Though they cannot pay their creditours.

6

1727.  Swift, Gulliver, II. vi. 151. He asked me who were our creditors; and where we found money to pay them.

7

1828.  Lytton, Pelham, I. i. 7. It will just pay off our most importunate creditors.

8

  attrib.  1881.  H. H. Gibbs, Double Stand., 68. England, it is said, being a creditor country, would always be paid in the cheaper metal.

9

  fig.  1595.  Shaks., John, III. iii. 21. There is a soule counts thee her Creditor, and with aduantage meanes to pay thy loue.

10

1615.  J. Stephens, Satyr. Ess. (ed. 2), 188. He hath more debtors in knowledge among the present Writers, then Creditors among the ancient Poets.

11

  2.  Book-keeping. Creditor (or Cr.) being written at the top of the right-hand or credit side of an account (originally in personal accounts, in apposition with the name of the person whose account it is), is hence applied to that side of any account, or to what is entered there. (Formerly with pl. = CREDIT sb. 12 b.)

12

1543.  (title) A profitable Treatyce … to learne … the kepyng of the famouse reconynge, called in Latyn, Dare and Habere, and in Englyshe, Debitor and Creditor, &c.

13

1588.  J. Mellis, Briefe Instr., C v b. The left side … is Debitor, and the other Creditor.

14

1660.  Willsford, Scales Comm., 208. Place the Creditors upon the right-hand page, and all the Debitors on the left, the pages number’d by 1. 1. 2. 2 so as the Dr. and Cr. make but one folio upon either side.

15

1745.  De Foe’s Eng. Tradesman (1841), I. xv. 131. Stock Dr. To cash of my father … £800. Stock Cr. … By house rent, at 50l. per an. … £500.

16

  attrib.  1588.  J. Mellis, Briefe Instr., C v. The Creditor syde of this your first leafe, declareth in briefe sentences where the estate of your Chyst in money is bestowed.

17

1806.  G. Fisher, Instructor (ed. 29), 139. Cast up the Dr. and Cr. Sides of your Balance; and if they come out both alike, then are your Accompts well kept.

18

  † 3.  One who becomes surety for (a person or thing). Obs. [Cf. med.L. creditor in sense of ‘curator,’ and CREANCER 2.]

19

a. 1400.  Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 176. Symeon. Alle heyl! my kyndely comfortour! Anna. Alle heyl! mankyndys creditour.

20

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccclxxxiv. (R.). Frende, appease yourselfe, thou shalte be well payed or this day be ended; kepe the nere me, I shall be thy credytour.

21

  † 4.  One who credits or believes. Obs. rare.

22

1597.  Daniel, Civ. Wares, III. lxxxiii. The easie creditours of novelties.

23

  Hence Creditorship.

24

1798.  Colebrooke, trans. Digest Hindu Law (1801), I. 10. Creditorship and debtorship are distinguished by some peculiarities.

25