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Where does the word "deficit" come from? It comes from Latin deficit, and was adopted directly into English (1780s).
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Where does the word "deficit" come from? It comes from Latin deficit, and was adopted directly into English (1780s).
Deficit’s story begins in Latin: deficit meant “it is lacking.” Third person singular of 'deficere', to fail. It reached English by 1780s as deficit. First used in French accounting. Today, deficit means an amount by which something falls short.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient deficit "it is lacking", third person singular of 'deficere', to fail.
- Stage 2 · English · 1780s deficit "shortfall", first used in French accounting.