emphyteusis

noun

em·​phy·​teu·​sis

ˌem(p)fəˈtüsə̇s,

-fə‧ˈtyü-

plural emphyteuses

-üˌsēz

: a Roman and civil law contract by which a grant is made of a right either perpetual or for a long period to the possession and enjoyment of originally agricultural land subject to the keeping of the land in cultivation or from depreciation, the payment of a fixed annual rent, and some other conditions

also : the heritable and alienable right so granted or the tenure by which it is held

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Late Greek, from Greek emphyteuein to implant (from em- en- entry 2 + phyteuein to plant, from phyton plant) + -sis

First Known Use

circa 1618, in the meaning defined above

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