mortgage
Translation
mortgage
Examples
They took out a 30-year mortgage to buy their house.
They took out a 30-year mortgage to buy their house.
We have to make our monthly mortgage payment.
We have to make our monthly mortgage payment.
Grammar Patterns
((noun)) a loan to buy property They have a large mortgage on their house.
to take out a ((noun)) to get a loan for property They took out a mortgage to buy the apartment.
Similar Words
Synonyms: loan, home loan, debt
Etymology
From Old French 'mort gage', literally 'dead pledge'. 'Mort' (dead) + 'gage' (pledge). The pledge 'dies' when the debt is paid or if payment fails.
Memory Tips
Remember 'mort' means death (like in mortal). A mortgage is a 'death pledge'—you pay it until it's 'dead' (paid off).