hypothecate

¹

[hahy-poth-i-keyt]

verb (used with object)

hypothecated, hypothecating 

1. to pledge to a creditor as security without delivering over; mortgage.

2. to put in pledge by delivery, as stocks given as security for a loan.

hypothecate

²

[hahy-poth-i-keyt, hi-]

verb (used with or without object)

hypothecated, hypothecating 

1. an uncommon variant of hypothesize.

hypothecate

/ haɪˈpɒθɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) law to pledge (personal property or a ship) as security for a debt without transferring possession or title

2. to allocate the revenue raised by a tax for a specified purpose See also bottomry

Other Word Forms

• hypothecation noun
• hypothecator noun
• hypothecater noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypothecate¹

1675–85; < Medieval Latin hypothēcātus, past participle of hypothēcāre. See hypothec, -ate ¹

Origin of hypothecate²

First recorded in 1905–10; from Greek hypothḗk(ē) “suggestion, counsel” (from hypotithénai “to assume, suppose”; hypo- ( def. ), thesis ( def. ) ) + -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypothecate¹

C17: hypothēcātus , past participle of hypothēcāre ; see _hypothec , _-ate ¹

Example Sentences

But previous attempts to "hypothecate" - or earmark - National Insurance contributions for specific public services have been abandoned.

Read more on BBC

He also called for a specific chunk of taxes raised to be "hypothecated" - earmarked - for the NHS, which he said was "in a state of profound crisis".

Read more on BBC

Last year the government allowed them to levy an additional 2% “precept”, hypothecated to social care, every year for four years, a move that 95% of councils adopted in the first year.

Read more on Economist

Though the Treasury is almost genetically sceptical of hypothecated taxes, the idea is popular among health officials and, more surprisingly, Conservative MPs.

Read more on Economist

I would expect him, therefore, to announce there will also be other taxes hypothecated for health.

Read more on BBC