Abstract: Based on a sample of 500 million e(+)e(-) -> c (c) over bar events recorded by the BABAR detector at c. m. energies of close to 10.6 GeV, we report on a study of the decay D0 ->pi(-)e(+)nu(e). We measure the ratio of branching fractions, R-D = B(D-0 -> pi(-)e(+)nu(e))/beta(D-0 -> K-pi(+)) = 0.0713 +/- 0.0017(stat) +/- 0.0024(syst), and use the present world average for B(D-0 -> K-pi(+)) to obtain B(D-0 -> pi(-)e(+)nu e) = (2.770 +/- 0.068(stat) +/- 0.092(syst) +/- 0.037(ext)) x 10(-3) where the third error accounts for the uncertainty on the branching fraction for the reference channel. The measured dependence of the differential branching fraction on q(2), the four-momentum transfer squared between the D and the pi meson, is compared to various theoretical predictions for the hadronic form factor, f(+,D)(pi)(q(2)), and the normalization vertical bar V-cd vertical bar x f(+,D)(pi)(q(2) = 0) = 0.1374 +/- 0.0038(stat) +/- 0.0022(sys)t +/- 0.0009(ext). is extracted from a fit to data. Using the most recent LQCD prediction of f(+,D)(pi)(q(2) = 0) = 0.666 +/- 0.029, we obtain vertical bar V-cd vertical bar = 0.206 +/- 0.007(exp) +/- 0.009(LQCD). Assuming, instead, vertical bar V-cd vertical bar = vertical bar V-us vertical bar = 0.2252 +/- 0.0009, we obtain f(+,D)(pi)(q(2) = 0) = 0.610 +/- 0.020(exp) +/- 0.005(ext). The q(2) dependence of f(+,D)(pi)(q(2)) is compared to a variety of multipole parametrizations. This information is applied to B-0 -> pi(-)e(+)nu(e) decays and, combined with an earlier B-0 -> pi(-)e(+)nu(e) measurement by BABAR, is used to derive estimates of vertical bar V-ub vertical bar.