Where does “phantom debt” come from?

phantom debt (English) comes from English debt, from Middle English dette, from Old French dete, from Latin dēbita, from Latin dēbitus, from Latin dēbeō, from Latin dē-, from Latin dē — afterwards, post; by, at.

phantom debt (English): that is old, defaulted, or not owed but has somehow been revived, henceforth haunting the presumed debtor

Definitions

  1. that is old, defaulted, or not owed but has somehow been revived, henceforth haunting the presumed debtor

Ancestry of “phantom debt”, step by step

phantom debt traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English debt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdebtAn action, state of mind, or object one has an...
2Middle EnglishdetteGoods or possessions owed to or due to another...
3Old Frenchdetedebt
4Latindēbita
5Latindēbitusowed
6Latindēbeōto owe something, to be under obligation to and for something
7Latindē-of; from
8Latinof; concerning; about
9Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
10Latinposteablative singular of postis
11Proto-Italicpostibehind, after
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpóstiafter
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

via English phantom

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishphantomA ghost or apparition; Something apparently seen,...
2Middle EnglishfantomeThat which is ephemeral or transient; worldly as opposed to spiritual wealth
3Old Frenchfantosmeghost
4Latinphantasmaimage, appearance; apparition, spectre, phantom
5Ancient Greekφάντασμαphantom, apparition, ghost; vision, dream;...
6Ancient Greekφαντάζωto show; to make visible; to place before one's...
7Ancient GreekφαίνωI cause to appear, bring to light; I show,...
8English-typeimpressed form; stamp; print; typical form; Used...
9Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
10Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
11Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
12Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós
phantom debt — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer