mortmain

[ mawrt-meyn ]

/ ˈmɔrtˌmeɪn /

the condition of lands or tenements held without right of alienation, as by an ecclesiastical corporation; inalienable ownership.

the perpetual holding of land, especially by a corporation or charitable trust.

Origin of mortmain

1250–1300; Middle English mort(e)mayn(e) < Anglo-French mortemain, translation of Medieval Latin mortua manus dead hand

The commons likewise prepared a bill to restrain the disposition of lands in mortmain, whereby they became unalienable.

The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.II. |Tobias Smollett
"I'm glad you're going to take that thing off again," said Mortmain.

Mortmain |Arthur Cheny Train
Like a flash it occurred to Mortmain that the solicitor had called to see him about the bankruptcy.

Mortmain |Arthur Cheny Train
By the law of mortmain religious houses were prohibited from acquiring it.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 3 |Various

Perhaps; for he would have no love for the Church even here, and he is obviously hostile to anything in the nature of mortmain.

Anarchism |Paul Eltzbacher

mortmain

/ (ˈmɔːtˌmeɪn) /

law the state or condition of lands, buildings, etc, held inalienably, as by an ecclesiastical or other corporation

C15: from Old French mortemain, from Medieval Latin mortua manus dead hand, inalienable ownership