double-entry
UK[ˌdʌb.əl ˈen.tri]US[ˌdʌb.əl ˈen.tri]
n
A system of bookkeeping in which every transaction is entered twice, once as a debit in one account and once as a credit in another, so that the accounts are always in balance.
Morpheme Breakdown
double
entry
double
twofold
entry
act of recording
Etymology
The term 'double-entry' is a transparent English compound describing a foundational accounting principle. The word 'double' traces its lineage to the Latin duplus, meaning "twofold," which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root dwo-, signifying "two." 'Entry' originates from the Latin intrare, "to enter," via Old French, carrying the sense of making a record in a ledger. The compound logic is entirely literal: the system is defined by its requirement for two ('double') corresponding ledger 'entries' for each financial transaction. This method, formalized in 15th-century Italy, revolutionized commerce by creating a self-balancing system where the two entries ensure mathematical integrity, transforming simple record-keeping into a tool for financial analysis and control.
Analysis
Structure: double (twofold) + entry (act of recording)
- double: From Latin duplus (twofold, double). In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning "consisting of two corresponding parts."
- entry: From Old French entree, from Latin intrata (an entrance, a beginning). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning "the act of recording an item in an account."
Examples
All modern businesses are required to maintain their financial records using the double-entry system.
The invention of double-entry bookkeeping was a major development in the history of commerce.
The accountant explained that the error was due to a failure to apply double-entry principles correctly.