hə̇ˈpäthik, hīˈ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: French & Late Latin; French hypothèque, from Middle French, from Late Latin hypotheca, from Greek hypothēkē deposit, pledge, mortgage, from hypotithenai to deposit as a pledge, put under, propose — more at hypothesis
1. Roman & civil law : an obligation, right, or security given by contract or by operation of law to a creditor over property of the debtor without transfer of possession or title to the creditor — compare pignus , pledge
2. Scotland : affair , concern