Mortmain
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mortification \Mor`ti*fi*ca"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. mortificatio a
killing. See {Mortify}.]
1. The act of mortifying, or the condition of being
mortified; especially:
(a) (Med.) The death of one part of an animal body, while
the rest continues to live; loss of vitality in some
part of a living animal; gangrene. --Dunglison.
(b) (Alchem. & Old Chem.) Destruction of active qualities;
neutralization. [Obs.] --Bacon.
(c) Subjection of the passions and appetites, by penance,
abstinence, or painful severities inflicted on the
body.
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The mortification of our lusts has something in
it that is troublesome, yet nothing that is
unreasonable. --Tillotson.
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2. Deep humiliation or shame, from a loss of pride; painful
embarassment, usually arising from exposure of a mistake;
chagrin; vexation.
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3. That which mortifies; the cause of humiliation, chagrin,
or vexation.
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It is one of the vexatious mortifications of a
studious man to have his thoughts discovered by a
tedious visit. --L'Estrange.
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4. (Scots Law) A gift to some charitable or religious
institution; -- nearly synonymous with {mortmain}.
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Syn: Chagrin; vexation; shame. See {Chagrin}.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mortmain \Mort"main`\, n. [F. mort, morte, dead + main hand; F.
main-morte. See {Mortal}, and {Manual}.] (Law)
Possession of lands or tenements in, or conveyance to, dead
hands, or hands that cannot alienate.
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Note: The term was originally applied to conveyance of land
made to ecclesiastical bodies; afterward to conveyance
made to any corporate body. --Burrill.
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from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
MORTMAIN. An unlawful alienation of lands, or tenements to any corporation,
sole or aggregate, ecclesiastical or temporal. These purchases having been
chiefly made by religious houses, in consequence of which lands became
perpetually inherent in one dead hand, this has occasioned the general
appellation of mortmain to be applied to such alienations. 2 Bl. Com. 268;
Co. Litt. 2 b; Ersk. Inst. B. 2, t. 4, s. 10; Barr. on the Stat. 27, 97.
2. Mortmain is also employed to designate all prohibitory laws, which
limit, restrain, or annul gifts, grants, or devises of lands and other
corporeal hereditaments to charitable uses. 2 Story, Eq. Jur. Sec. 1137,
note 1. See Shelf. on Mortm. 2, 3.
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