English

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Etymology

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From Latin hypothēca (pledge, mortgage), from Ancient Greek ὑποθήκη (hupothḗkē, warning, pledge).

Noun

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hypothec (usually uncountable, plural hypothecs)

  1. (law) In Scotland, a landlord's right over the stocking (cattle, implements, etc.), and crops of his tenant, as security for payment of rent.
  2. (law) In Québec, a legal right over property used as security for an obligation, such as a mortgage.
  3. (colloquial) Everything; the whole lot.
    ...saddle and all, the whole hypothec turned round and grovelled in the dust below the donkey’s belly.
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References

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