# "I trust him implicitly." Why "implicitly?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-trust-him-implicitly-why-implicitly/385722 "2006-12-27T05:30:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-trust-him-implicitly-why-implicitly/385722/1 "2006-12-27T05:30:11Z")
What’s the origin of the use of term “implicitly” to describe a degree of trust? And is that usage older or newer than the usage of the term to mean “not explicitly\*?” I would think newer, but hey you never know with etymology… -FrL- \*Not the best definition, but hopefully you see what I’m talking about. I’ve never heard anyone say they trust someone “explicitly” though I’m going to do so at my first opportunity now that I’ve thought of it. ---
**Author:** ![Don26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@Don26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don26)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-trust-him-implicitly-why-implicitly/385722/2 "2006-12-27T06:05:56Z")
> [@](#): > > unquestioning or unreserved; absolute: implicit trust; implicit obedience; implicit confidence. the Second definition at [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) Aside from that, I’ve got nothin’… ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-trust-him-implicitly-why-implicitly/385722/3 "2006-12-27T07:23:40Z")
I think it’s a case of semantic drift. The first definition of “implicit” at [yourDictionary.com](http://yourDictionary.com) is “implied or understood though not directly expressed.” Under this definition, implicit trust is trust that isn’t stated. From there you can go to trust that doesn’t have to be stated, and finally to trust that doesn’t have to be questioned. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-trust-him-implicitly-why-implicitly/385722/4 "2006-12-27T11:05:28Z")
I’m not sure of the exact origin, but I always thought of it as the reverse of “I trust him, but only to the following extent or degree: …” That’s explicitly laying out the parameters of trust. From there, it seems a fairly natural reversal to ‘implicit’ being ‘without qualification or reservation’ ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-trust-him-implicitly-why-implicitly/385722/5 "2006-12-27T20:25:57Z")
From the OED: > [@](#): > > 1. With implicit faith, confidence, submission, etc.; unquestioningly. > > 1650 HOBBES De Corp. Pol. 132 There may be more Obedience required in him that hath the Fundamental Points explicated unto him, than in him that hath received the same but implicitly. 1662 J. DAVIES Mandelslo’s Trav. 96 The young Prince implicitely crediting what was told him by his Favourite. 1712 STEELE Spect. No. 497 {page}1 They would lay by their animosities implicitly, if he bid them be friends. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-trust-him-implicitly-why-implicitly/385722/6 "2006-12-28T01:05:44Z")
Online etymology states: > [@](#): > > implicit > 1599, from L. implicitus, later variant of implicatus, pp. of implicare (see implicate). > implication > “involvement, interweaving,” c.1430, from L. implicationem (nom. implicatio) “interweaving, entanglement,” from implicatus, pp. of implicare “involve, entangle, connect closely,” from in- “in” + plicare “to fold” (see ply). Implicate in the sense of “involve a person in a crime, charge, etc.” is from 1797. From that, my sense of it is that implicitly refers to the closeness which one feels towards another, justifying the trust imbued in said party. **Samclem** or another more linguistically learned soul may happen along and say I’m full of it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-trust-him-implicitly-why-implicitly/385722/7 "2006-12-28T03:46:58Z")
[QUOTE=Jeff Lichtman] The first definition of “implicit” at [yourDictionary.com](http://yourDictionary.com) is “implied or understood though not directly expressed.” Under this definition, implicit trust is trust that isn’t stated. From there you can go to trust that doesn’t have to be stated, and finally to trust that doesn’t have to be questioned. [/QUOTE] From said sequence, one can deduce that a statement of implicit trust is necessarily false … 😛