debtor

[det-er] /ˈdɛt ər/

noun

a person who is in debt or under financial obligation to another (opposed to creditor).

Origin

1250-1300; Middle English detto(u)r < Anglo-French dett(o)ur, de(b)tour, Old French det(t)or < Latin dēbitōr-, stem of dēbitor, equivalent to dēbi-, variant stem of dēbēre (see debt) + -tor -tor

Related forms

nondebtor, noun

predebtor, noun

Examples from the web for debtor

But there is a surging resentment in creditor and debtor countries, and the risk of collapse.
As a result of the default judgment, debt buyers can either garnish wages and bank accounts or require payment from the debtor.
The carrot for the debtor country is securing future access to credit, even at a significant risk premium.
Think of it this way: private demand in the debtor countries has plunged with the end of the debt-financed boom.
But the result is that foreign creditors have a right to be more suspicious of debtor countries.
In fact, many bankers already share this view and question whether many debtor countries will ever repay their debt.
If the debtor wins a court case under the act, the debt collector must pay the lawyer's fees.
One can expect creditors to argue that the debtor should have received some consideration for giving up its rights in this regard.
When a debtor owes a little money to the bank, and there's a problem paying the debt, it's the debtor's problem.
All four of the debtor countries in the chart enjoyed housing booms.

British Dictionary definitions for debtor

debtor

/ˈdɛtə/

noun

a person or commercial enterprise that owes a financial obligation Compare creditor

Word Origin and History for debtor

early 13c., dettur, dettour, from Old French detour, from Latin debitor "a debter," from past participle stem of debere; see debt. The -b- was restored in later French, and in English c.1560-c.1660. The KJV has detter three times, debter three times, debtor twice and debtour once.

debtor in the Bible

Various regulations as to the relation between debtor and creditor are laid down in the Scriptures. (1.) The debtor was to deliver up as a pledge to the creditor what he could most easily dispense with (Deut. 24:10, 11). (2.) A mill, or millstone, or upper garment, when given as a pledge, could not be kept over night (Ex. 22:26, 27). (3.) A debt could not be exacted during the Sabbatic year (Deut. 15:1-15). For other laws bearing on this relation see Lev. 25:14, 32, 39; Matt. 18:25, 34. (4.) A surety was liable in the same way as the original debtor (Prov. 11:15; 17:18).