hypothecate

1 of 3

verb (1)

hy·​poth·​e·​cate hī-ˈpä-thə-ˌkāt 

hi-

hypothecated; hypothecating

transitive verb

: to pledge as security without delivery of title or possession

hypothecation

hī-ˌpä-thə-ˈkā-shən 

hi-

noun

hypothecator

hī-ˈpä-thə-ˌkā-tər 

hi-

noun

hypothecate

2 of 3

verb (2)

hy·​poth·​e·​cate hī-ˈpä-thə-ˌkāt 

hypothecated; hypothecating

transitive verb

: hypothesize

hypothecation

3 of 3

noun

hy·​poth·​e·​ca·​tion hə̇ˌpäthəˈkāshən 

(ˌ)hīˌ-

plural -s

1

Roman, civil, & maritime law : the act or contract by which property (as real property) is hypothecated

2

Roman, civil, & maritime law : the right or power of a creditor or claimant over property owned by a debtor or another who has pledged it for the debt to cause the property to be sold to satisfy the claim if payment is defaulted

Synonyms of hypothecate

Verb (2)

• say
• assume
• presume
• believe
• suppose

Examples of hypothecate in a Sentence

Verb (2)

even before a single vote had been cast, media pundits were hypothecating that the former senator would be the party's nominee

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Medieval Latin hypothecare to pledge, from Late Latin hypotheca pledge, from Greek hypothēkē, from hypotithenai to put under, deposit as a pledge

Verb (2)

Greek hypothēkē suggestion, from hypotithenai

Noun

Medieval Latin hypothecation-, hypothecatio, from hypothecatus (past participle) + Latin -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1681, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hypothecate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Legal Definition

hypothecate

transitive verb

hy·​poth·​e·​cate hi-ˈpä-thə-ˌkāt, hī- 

hypothecated; hypothecating

: to pledge as security without delivery of title or possession compare pawn

hypothecation

-ˌpä-thə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Etymology

Transitive verb

Medieval Latin hypothecare to pledge, from Late Latin hypotheca pledge, from Greek hypothēkē, from hypotithenai to put under, deposit as pledge