[am.or.tize] vt -tized ; -tiz.ing [ME amortisen to deaden, alienate in mortmain, modif. of MF amortiss-, stem of amortir, fr. (assumed) VL admortire to deaden, fr. L ad- + mort-, mors death--more at murder] (1882) 1: to provide for the gradual extinguishment of (as a mortgage) usu. by contribution to a sinking fund at the time of each periodic interest payment
2: to amortize an expenditure for "~ intangibles" "~ the new factory" -- am.or.tiz.able adj