Main Entry: debt

Pronunciation: \ˈdet\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English dette, debte, from Anglo-French dette something owed, from Vulgar Latin *debita, from Latin, plural of debitum debt, from neuter of debitus, past participle of debēre to owe, from de- + habēre to have — more at give

Date: 13th century

1 : sin, trespass
2 : something owed : obligation <unable to pay off his debts>
3 : a state of owing <deeply in debt>
4 : the common-law action for the recovery of money held to be due

— debt·less \-ləs\ adjective