debt English · revision 3908

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290|origins=la dēbēre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /det/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|dette]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|dete]], dette,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-vul|*dēbita]], the plural of Latin dēbitum taken as a feminine noun,^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|dēbitum|t=thing owed]], the neuter past participle of [[m|la|dēbēre|t=to owe]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) originally “to keep something away from someone”, from dē- “away” and habēre “to have”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*ghabh-|t=to give or receive]].^(Etymonline) The b was put back in imitation of Latin, in French from the 13th to the 16th century^(Hoad 1986) and in English from about 1400,^(Etymonline) first recorded in the plural debtes about 1405;^(Barnhart 1988) the b was never pronounced.^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[debit]], [[debtor]] and [[due]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Something owed: before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and about 1280 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988) As a liability or obligation to pay, the OED has about 1290.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “The state of being under obligation to pay” is from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline) and ''in debt'' from about 1314.^(OED 1989) In biblical language, as in “forgive us our debts”, a debt is a sin needing expiation (before 1225).^(OED 1989)^(AHD) In Middle English the ''debt of the body'' was what spouses owed each other, sexual intercourse.^(Etymonline) A ''debt of honour'', not legally enforceable, is from 1646.^(OED 1989) The adjective “owed” was in use from the 14th to the 17th century, as in Shakespeare's Hamlet.^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1225 – a sin.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1290 – an obligation to pay.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – something owed.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1314 – ''in debt''.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – the spelling with b.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1646 – ''debt of honour''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something owed, such as money, goods or services.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An [[obligation]] to pay or render something to someone.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The condition of owing: ''deep in debt''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An offence needing forgiveness; a [[trespass]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[debtless]]

+ * [[debt of honor]]

+ * [[national debt]]

+ * [[oxygen debt]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[debit]]

+ * [[debitor]]

+ * [[debtor]]

+ * [[indebted]]

+ * [[due]]

+ * [[duty]]

+ * [[habit]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}