SG Heritage Dictionary

Amortize [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1828

In English law, to alienate in mortmain, that is, to sell to a corporation, sole or aggregate, ecclesiastical or temporal, and their successors. This was considered as selling to dead hands. This cannot be done without the kings license. [ See Mortmain .]

Amortize [Verb transitive] Webster's Dictionary 1913

1. To make as if dead; to destroy.

2. To alienate in mortmain, that is, to convey to a corporation. See Mortmain.

3. To clear off or extinguish, as a debt, usually by means of a sinking fund.

Amortizement [\N] Webster's Dictionary 1828

AMORTIZA'TION or AMORT'IZEMENT, noun The act or right of alienating lands or tenements to a corporation, which was considered formerly as transferring them to dead hands, as such alienations were mostly made to religious houses for superstitious uses.

Amortizement [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

Same as Amortization.