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Added 10 October 2026

debenture

/dɪˈbɛntjʊə/ noun

Latin root: debentur Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about debenture at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future.
A certificate or voucher acknowledging a debt.

Origin

From earlier debentur, from Latin debentur (“they are owing”), supposedly the first word of such a document in early times. The ending was apparently influenced by words in -(t)ure.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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