Etymologically
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debitum

Etymology and origin of the Latin word debitum

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cicero
Ultimate origin
Latin (habeō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈdeː.bɪ.tũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɛː.bi.tum][1]

Forms

dēbitum n (genitive dēbitī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of the past participle of dēbeō “to owe”, from ⟨dēhibeō⟩, used as a noun.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of a debt.[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant what is owed, a debt, an obligation, as Cicero's dēbitum alicui solvere “to pay one's debt”, and vōtī dēbitum the obligation of a vow.[2][5] In Nepos nātūrae dēbitum reddere meant to pay one's debt to nature, to die.[2] In Seneca it meant what is due to happen.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a debt, duty, sin.[6] Medieval Latin used it for a duty, what is proper, sin, guilt, a crime and a fine.[7] It survives in French dette and Spanish deuda, and Old French dete gave English debt about 1300; English debit came in the mid-15th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a debt.[2][4]
  • c. 100–24 BC – Nepos uses nātūrae dēbitum.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English debt is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A debt, obligation, nātūrae dēbitum reddere, to die.[2]
  2. What is due.[2]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A sin.[6]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A duty; a fine.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
Cite this entry

“Debitum.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/debitum. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·