am·or·tize

[am-er-tahyz, uh-mawr-tahyz]
verb (used with object), am·or·tized, am·or·tiz·ing.
1.
Finance.
a.
to liquidate or extinguish (a mortgage, debt, or other obligation), especially by periodic payments to the creditor or to a sinking fund.
b.
to write off a cost of (an asset) gradually.
2.
Old English Law. to convey to a corporation or church group; alienate in mortmain.
Also, especially British, am·or·tise.


Origin:
1375–1425; Middle English amortisen < Anglo-French, Old French amortiss-, long stem of amortir literally, to kill, die < Vulgar Latin *a(d)mortīre (derivative of Latin mors, stem mort- death, with ad- ad-); -ize later replacing -is(s)-, probably by association with Anglo-Latin a(d)mortizāre

am·or·tiz·a·ble, adjective
non·am·or·tiz·a·ble, adjective
un·am·or·tized, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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without emotion; apathetic; unmoved.
to limit to a certain amount, number, share, or allowance, often inappropriately
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World English Dictionary
amortize or amortise (əˈmɔːtaɪz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  finance to liquidate (a debt, mortgage, etc) by instalment payments or by periodic transfers to a sinking fund
2.  to write off (a wasting asset) by annual transfers to a sinking fund
3.  property law (formerly) to transfer (lands, etc) in mortmain
 
[C14: from Medieval Latin admortizāre, from Old French amortir to reduce to the point of death, ultimately from Latin ad to + mors death]
 
amortise or amortise
 
vb
 
[C14: from Medieval Latin admortizāre, from Old French amortir to reduce to the point of death, ultimately from Latin ad to + mors death]
 
a'mortizable or amortise
 
adj
 
a'mortisable or amortise
 
adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

amortize
late 14c., from O.Fr. amortiss-, prp. stem of amortir "deaden," from V.L. *admortire "to extinguish," from L. ad- "to" + mors (gen. mortis) "death" (see mortal). Originally a legal term for an act of alienating lands. Meaning "extinguish a debt" (in form amortization) is attested from 1864.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
The remainder is covered by a mandatory general fund payment to amortize the unfunded liability.
If the bond yields taxable interest, you can choose to amortize the premium.
If you meet certain requirements, you may elect to defer and amortize research and experimental costs.
Payments are recalculated each year to fully amortize the loan, with level payments over the remaining life of the loan.
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