[German version]

A central concept of Roman law, etymology unclear. Stipulatio is a verbal form of promise to provide a service, linked to a question and corresponding answer format, i.e. a verbal contract containing a one-sided obligation (Paul. Sent. 2,3). The future creditor formulated the question to the future debtor, who had to reply giving a repetition of the verb used in the question (Dari spondes? Spondeo, 'Do you pledge that it will be given? I so pledge', etc., Gai. Inst. 3,92). The verbs most commonly used were spondere, promittere, fidepromittere, fideiubere, the first be…