Indebted

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈdɛtɪd/

Definitions

1. Being in a position where one owes money or a favor to someone else
2. Experiencing a feeling of gratitude due to receiving help or support from another party
3. Owing a debt or obligation to another party ; having a sense of thankfulness for assistance or kindness provided

Etymology: "Indebted" is the past participle of "indebt", which came into Middle English as "endetten" from Old French "endetter". The Old French verb was built from the prefix "en-", meaning "into" or "in", and "detter", from "dette", the word for debt. So the verb literally meant to put someone into debt, and the adjective kept that sense of being bound to repay a favor or obligation. The English word "debt" itself came from Old French "dette", which descends from Latin "debitum", the neuter past participle of "debere", "to owe". English speakers have since adjusted the spelling of "debt" to match its Latin source, adding a silent "b", even though the Old French form had none. That silent letter is a later spelling change, not part of the original word.

Synonyms: obligated, in debt, beholden, entitled, liable

Antonyms: unobligated, free, independent, unencumbered, self-sufficient