— amortizable , adj.
/am"euhr tuyz', euh mawr"tuyz/ , v.t., amortized, amortizing .
1. Finance.
a. to liquidate or extinguish (a mortgage, debt, or other obligation), esp. by periodic payments to the creditor or to a sinking fund.
b. to write off a cost of (an asset) gradually.
2. Old Eng. Law. to convey to a corporation or church group; alienate in mortmain.
Also, esp. Brit., amortise .
[ 1375-1425; ME amortisen amortiss-, long s. of amortir lit., to kill, die a ( d ) mortire (deriv. of L mors, s. mort- death, with ad- AD-); -IZE later r. -is ( s )-, prob. by assoc. with AL a ( d ) mortizare ]