amortize

am·or·tize  (mr-tz, -môr-)

tr.v. am·or·tized, am·or·tiz·ing, am·or·tiz·es

1. To liquidate (a debt, such as a mortgage) by installment payments or payment into a sinking fund.

2. To write off an expenditure for (office equipment, for example) by prorating over a certain period.

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[Middle English amortisen, to alienate in mortmain, from Old French amortir, amortiss-, from Vulgar Latin *admortre, to deaden : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin mors, mort-, death; see mer- in Indo-European roots.]

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amor·tiza·ble adj.

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amortize or -tise

Verb

[-tizing, -tized] or -tising, -tised Finance to pay off (a debt) gradually by periodic transfers to a sinking fund [Latin ad to + mors death]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

amortize - liquidate gradually amortise liquidate, pay off - eliminate by paying off (debts)