Mortmain

Mortmain (/ˈmɔːrtmeɪn/^[1]^[2]) is the perpetual, inalienable ownership of real estate by a corporation or legal institution; the term is usually used in the context of its prohibition. Historically, the land owner usually would be the religious office of a church; today, insofar as mortmain prohibitions against perpetual ownership still exist, it refers most often to modern companies and charitable trusts. The term mortmain is derived from Mediaeval Latin mortua manus, literally "dead hand", through Old French morte main^[3] (in modern French, mainmorte).

^ "mortmain". Oxford English Dictionary third edition. Oxford University Press. December 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
^ "mortmain". Merriam Webster Dictionary (11th ed.). 2003. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
^ Dictionary.com, access date: 23 April 2013

[1] "mortmain". Oxford English Dictionary third edition. Oxford University Press. December 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2019.

[2] "mortmain". Merriam Webster Dictionary (11th ed.). 2003. Retrieved 12 October 2023.

[3] Dictionary.com, access date: 23 April 2013

[1]

[2]

[3]