creditor
    n 1: a person to whom money is owed by a debtor; someone to whom
         an obligation exists [ant: debitor, debtor]

Creditor \Cred"it*or\ (kr?d"?t-?r), n. [L.: cf. F. cr?diteur.
   See Credit.]
   1. One who credits, believes, or trusts.
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            The easy creditors of novelties.      --Daniel.
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   2. One who gives credit in business matters; hence, one to
      whom money is due; -- correlative to debtor.
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            Creditors have better memories than debtors.
                                                  --Franklin.
      [1913 Webster] Creditress

CREDITOR, persons, contracts. A creditor is he who has a right to require 
the fulfilment of an obligation. or contract. 
     2. Creditors may; be divided into personal and real. 
     3. The former are so called, because their claims are mainly against 
the person, who can reach the property of their debtors only by; virtue of 
the general rule by which he who has become personally obligated, is bound 
to fulfill his engagements, with all his property acquired and to be 
acquired, Which is a common guaranty for all his creditors. 
     4. The latter are called real, because they have mortgages or other 
securities binding on the real estates of their debtors. 
     5. It is proper to state that personal creditors may be divided into 
two classes first, those who have a right on all the property of their 
debtors, without considering the origin, or the nature of their claims; 
secondly, those who, in consequence of some provision of law, are entitled 
to some special prerogative, either in the manner of recovery, or in the 
rank they are to hold among creditors; these are entitled to preference. As 
an example, may be mentioned the case of the United State; when they are 
creditors, they have always a preference in case of insolvent estates. 
     6. A creditor sometimes becomes so, unknown to his debtor, as is the 
case when the former receives an assignment of commercial; paper, the title 
to recover which may be conveyed either by endorsement, or, in some cases, 
by mere delivery. But in general it is essential there should be a privity 
of contract between the parties. Vide, generally, 7 Vin. Ab. 42; 3 Com. Dig. 
343; 8 Com. Dig. 388; 1 Supp. to Ves. Jr. 302 2 Sup. to Ves. Jr. 305 Code, 
7, 72, 6; Id. 8, 18; Dig 42, 6, 17; Nov. 97 ch. t3 Bouv. Inst. Index, h.t. 

CREDITOR, n.  One of a tribe of savages dwelling beyond the Financial
Straits and dreaded for their desolating incursions.