incredulous

One entry found for incredulous.

Main Entry: in·cred·u·lous
Pronunciation: (")in-'kre-j&-l&s, -dy&-l&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin incredulus, from in- + credulus credulous
1 : unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true : not credulous : SKEPTICAL
2 : INCREDIBLE 1
3 : expressing incredulity <an incredulous stare>
- in·cred·u·lous·ly 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.