credo
UK[ˈkriːdəʊ]US[ˈkriːdoʊ]
n
a statement of the basic beliefs of a religious faith or political movement.
n
a personal guiding principle or set of beliefs.
Etymology
the english word 'credo' is a direct borrowing from the latin verb 'credere,' meaning 'to believe.' it entered english in the 12th century, taken from the opening word of the latin nicene and apostles' creeds, 'credo in unum deum' ('i believe in one god'). the latin root 'cred-' itself derives from the proto-indo-European root 'kerd-dhe-', meaning 'to place one's heart,' a compound of 'kerd-' (heart) and 'dhe-' (to put or place). thus, the journey from the literal ancient idea of "placing one's heart" on something evolved into the abstract concept of intellectual and spiritual belief, now signifying a formal declaration of faith or a core personal principle.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from latin, where it functions as a first-person singular present indicative verb meaning "i believe." it is not productively formed from smaller morphemes in modern english spelling.
Examples
"freedom of speech is a central credo of a democratic society."
"her personal credo is to treat others with kindness and respect."
"the company's credo emphasizes putting the customer first."