mortmain

mort·main  (môrtmn)

n.

1. Law Perpetual ownership of real estate by institutions such as churches that cannot transfer or sell it.

2. The often oppressive influence of the past on the present.

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[Middle English mortemayne, from Old French mortemain : morte, feminine of mort, dead; see mortgage + main, hand (from Latin manus; see man-² in Indo-European roots).]

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mortmain [ˈmɔːtˌmeɪn]

n

(Law) Law the state or condition of lands, buildings, etc., held inalienably, as by an ecclesiastical or other corporation

[from Old French mortemain, from Medieval Latin mortua manus dead hand, inalienable ownership]

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mortmain

transfer or ownership of real property in perpetuity, as transfer to or ownership by a corporate body like a school, college, or church.

See also: Property and Ownership

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	mortmain - real property held inalienably (as by an ecclesiastical corporation) dead hand corp, corporation - a business firm whose articles of incorporation have been approved in some state immovable, real estate, real property, realty - property consisting of houses and land
	2.	mortmain - the oppressive influence of past events or decisions dead hand of the past, dead hand influence - a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc; "used her parents' influence to get the job"