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Dec 31, 2015
This week’s themeFirst words This week’s words paternoster mittimus gaudeamus debenture magnificat
Laboranti bona debentur (Good things are owed to the one who works hard)
Motto of the Debenham family Photo: Owen Massey McKnight
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Gargdebenture
PRONUNCIATION:
MEANING:
noun: A certificate acknowledging a debt.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin debentur (they are due/owing), the first word in early
certificates of indebtedness. From Latin debere (to owe), ultimately
from the Indo-European root ghabh- (to give or to receive), which is
also the source of give, gift, able, habit, prohibit, due, duty,
adhibit, and
habile.
Earliest documented use: 1455.
USAGE:
“‘My dear Violet,’ Allen said, leaning over to be heard, ‘you must recall
that Foster’s idea of fun is curling up with a debenture agreement that
includes an especially ingenious reordering of priorities in bankruptcy.’” David O. Stewart; The Wilson Deception; Kensington Books; 2015. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
An artist should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation, prisoner of success, etc. -Henri Matisse, artist (31 Dec 1869-1954)
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