Arrears
/əˈrɪərz/noun
Money or obligations that are overdue and remain unpaid.
Did you know?In medieval legal language, being “in arrears” meant literally being behind in an obligation, turning physical backwardness into financial debt.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*terh₂-
“Through or across; a proposed ancient root associated with movement beyond or behind.”
Classical Latin
Latin
retrō
“Backward, behind, or back again.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
ad retrō
“Backward; toward the rear.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
arere
“Behind, afterward, or in arrears.”
14th Century
Anglo-French
arere
“A state of being behind, especially in payment or duty.”
16th Century
English
arrear
“An unpaid debt or obligation that is overdue.”
Modern English
English
arrears
“Overdue money or obligations; the plural form became the standard financial expression.”
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