v.tr. 1 (also absol.; foll. by on) stop (a mortgage) from being redeemable or (a mortgager) from redeeming, esp. as a result of defaults in payment. 2 exclude, prevent. 3 shut out; bar. foreclosure n.
[ ME f. OF forclos past part. of forclore f. for- out f. L foras + CLOSE(2) ]