indebted
[in-det-id]
- committed or obligated to repay a monetary loan: He was indebted to his friend for a large sum.
- obligated for favors or kindness received: He was indebted to her for nursing him through pneumonia.
Show More
Origin of indebted
Synonyms
See more synonyms for indebted on Thesaurus.com1. bound. 2. beholden, grateful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for indebted
Contemporary Examples
Many legendary Shakespearean thespians have been indebted to drink.
Is That a Bottle of Wine I See Before Me? The Delights of Drunk ShakespeareTom Teodorczuk
June 1, 2014
In making the Black Paintings, Reinhardt may have been as indebted to Duchamp as to Malevich and Barnett Newman.
The Western literary tradition is indebted to the disaster caused by a bad guest.
His voice caught the attention of everyone around him, including one fellow Palestinian, to whom Assaf will forever be indebted.
We are indebted to him and to all those in law enforcement who assisted in bringing the Tsarnaev brothers to justice.
Historical Examples
To your hint, I thank you, are they indebted for their disappointment.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
I am indebted to Mrs. Richards for this method of extracting the oil.
I am indebted to him almost for the discovery—altogether for the restoration of the library.'
Wilfrid CumbermedeGeorge MacDonald
How can I divide myself, and say that the one-half of me is indebted to the other?
Wilfrid CumbermedeGeorge MacDonald
We were indebted for it chiefly to the skill and adroitness of Selina Whiston.
Beauty and The Beast, and Tales From HomeBayard Taylor
indebted
- owing gratitude for help, favours, etc; obligated
- owing money
Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for indebted
adj.
late 14c., endetted "owing money," past participle of endetten "to indebt, oblige," from Old French endetter "to involve in debt," from en- "in" (see in- (2)) + dette "debt" (see debt). Figurative sense of "under obligation for favors or services" first attested 1560s. Related: indebt; indebtedness. Latin indebitus meant "not owed, not due."
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper