debit
UK[ˈdebɪt]US[ˈdebɪt]
n
an entry in an account recording a sum owed or paid out.
n
the sum of money owed or withdrawn.
v
to remove money from a bank account, especially as a payment.
Morpheme Breakdown
deb
it
deb
owe
it
noun suffix
Etymology
the word debit originates from the latin past participle 'debitum', meaning 'that which is owed', derived from the verb 'debere' (to owe). this verb itself is a compound of 'de-' (away, down) and 'habere' (to have), conveying the sense of having something that belongs to another, thus creating an obligation. entering english through middle french in the late 15th century, it initially referred to an entry in bookkeeping. the core logic of the word has remained remarkably stable, moving from the literal concept of a recorded debt in latin to the specific accounting and banking term it is today.
Analysis
Structure: deb (owe) + it (noun suffix)
deb is from latin 'debitum', meaning 'something owed', and functions as the core root. it is a noun-forming suffix of latin origin.
Examples
the first transaction on the statement is a debit for fifty dollars.
please debit my account for the annual subscription fee.
the bank will automatically debit the loan payment each month.