Debitum

Debitum is a Latin noun meaning a debt or something that is owed, typically referring to a financial obligation or an obligation in law or contract. It is neuter in gender and part of the second declension, often used in classical and medieval Latin to denote what must be paid or fulfilled.

Etymology and form: Debitum originates from debeo, “to owe” or “to ought.” The related participle debit u s gives the noun debitum, literally “that which is owed.” The Latin root also yields related forms such as debitus (owed, due). The English word debit shares this common origin.

Declension: Debitum is a neuter noun of the second declension. Its principal forms are: singular—nominative debitum, genitive debitī, dative debitō, accusative debitum, ablative debitō; plural—nominative and accusative debita, genitive debitōrum, dative and ablative debitīs.

Usage and meaning: In Latin texts, debitum broadly denotes a debt or obligation, whether financial, contractual, or moral. It appears in phrases such as debitum solvere (to pay off a debt) or debitum reddere (to return what is owed). The term can be used in legal, economic, and rhetorical contexts to indicate that something is due or required.

Historical notes: Debitum figures in Latin legal, administrative, and scholastic writings, reflecting how Romans and their successors categorized obligations. While its literal sense remains “that which is owed,” the word also helps illuminate how Latin speakers described duties, dues, and liabilities in various legal and commercial settings. In modern discussions of Latin vocabulary, debitum is treated as a classic example of a neuter noun tied to the notion of owing.