Language is constantly evolving, and many people often wonder whether certain forms of words are valid or widely accepted. One such word that occasionally raises eyebrows is remitting. You may have seen it used in banking contexts or in medical discussions, but does it hold a legitimate place in the English language? The answer is yes remitting is indeed a word, and it carries specific meanings in various contexts. Understanding its usage and origins can help clarify why it is considered a proper English word and when it’s appropriate to use it.
Definition and Etymology of Remitting
The word remitting is the present participle of the verb remit. It comes from the Latin rootremittere, which means to send back or to relax. Over time, this Latin verb evolved in Old French and then Middle English into the word we now know as remit. Therefore, remitting has a long history in the English language and is firmly rooted in classical Latin and early English usage.
Primary Definitions
Remitting is typically used in three broad contexts:
- Financial context: To send or transfer money, especially to pay for goods or services.
- Legal or institutional context: To cancel or refrain from enforcing a debt, punishment, or obligation.
- Medical context: To refer to symptoms of a disease that become less severe or temporarily go away.
Usage in Financial Contexts
One of the most common uses of remitting is in reference to money transfers. For example, a person might be remitting funds to a relative abroad or remitting a payment for an invoice. In this context, the word functions much like sending or transferring. It is commonly used in international banking, remittance services, and formal communication involving financial transactions.
Examples in Financial Sentences
- The company is responsible for remitting tax payments to the government each quarter.
- He has been remitting money to his family back home for several years.
Legal and Institutional Usage
In law or formal institutions, remitting can refer to reducing or canceling a punishment or debt. This use often appears in legal documents, policy statements, or formal announcements. For example, a court may be described as remitting a fine if it decides to forgive or reduce the amount owed.
Examples in Legal Sentences
- The judge considered remitting part of the defendant’s sentence due to good behavior.
- The organization is remitting the late fees for all members during the grace period.
Medical Usage of Remitting
In the field of medicine, remitting refers to symptoms that decrease in severity or disappear temporarily. It is commonly used in the context of chronic diseases, especially autoimmune conditions or illnesses like multiple sclerosis. In these cases, doctors might talk about a remitting phase, meaning a period when the symptoms are not active or are significantly reduced.
Examples in Medical Sentences
- The patient is currently experiencing a remitting stage of the illness.
- Remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis is characterized by alternating periods of symptom flare-ups and remission.
Grammatical Role and Forms
As the present participle of remit, the word remitting can function in several grammatical structures:
- Verb form: Used in continuous tenses (e.g., She is remitting the payment now.)
- Gerund: Used as a noun (e.g., Remitting funds regularly requires careful budgeting.)
- Participle adjective: Less common but possible (e.g., The remitting behavior was noted by the doctor.)
Common Phrases and Idioms
While remitting is not typically used in idiomatic expressions, it does appear in several common phrases, especially in financial and institutional settings. Here are some examples:
- Remitting agency An organization or business that sends money on behalf of another party.
- Remitting officer A person responsible for overseeing the sending or cancellation of funds or obligations.
- Remitting account A bank account from which payments are made.
Is Remitting Still in Active Use?
Yes, remitting is still actively used in both spoken and written English, particularly in professional, academic, and technical contexts. Though it may not be as common in casual conversation, it remains a valid and useful word. Its clarity and specificity make it preferable in situations where precision is important such as legal documentation, medical reports, and financial statements.
Similar Words and Synonyms
Depending on the context, there are several synonyms that can replace remitting, though not all carry exactly the same nuance:
- Sending General term for dispatching something.
- Transferring Often used in banking or logistics.
- Forgiving More emotional or moral connotation, used in legal contexts.
- Canceling Suitable for financial or legal usage.
- Abating Common in medical or scientific contexts.
Is Remitting in Dictionaries?
Yes, major English dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, Oxford English Dictionary, and Cambridge Dictionary all list remitting as a valid word. Each entry provides definitions that align with financial, legal, and medical usages. This affirms that remitting is a well-established term in modern English vocabulary.
Why Some People Might Doubt It
Some people may be unfamiliar with remitting because it’s not a term often encountered outside of specific professional fields. Its form ending in -ing may also make it seem like a temporary construction rather than a standalone word. Additionally, it may be mistaken for a misspelling or overly formal alternative to sending or reducing.
In summary, remitting is indeed a word. It is the present participle of remit and is used across various domains such as finance, law, and medicine. Its presence in formal documents, dictionaries, and specialized terminology proves its legitimacy and utility. Whether you’re referring to the act of sending money, reducing a sentence, or experiencing a temporary relief from symptoms, remitting is both correct and appropriate. So the next time you come across this word, you can rest assured it’s not only real it’s functionally important in the English language.