Noun: mortmain 'mort,meyn
- (corporation) real property held inalienably (as by an ecclesiastical corporation)
"The church's property was held in mortmain, preventing its sale";
- dead hand
- The oppressive influence of past events or decisions
"The company struggled to innovate due to the mortmain of the past";
- dead hand, dead hand of the past
Derived forms: mortmains
Type of: immovable, influence, real estate, real property, realty
Encyclopedia: Mortmain