hypothecate

¹ American  

[hahy-poth-i-keyt, hi-] / haɪˈpɒθ ɪˌkeɪt, hɪ- /

verb (used with or without object)

hypothecated, hypothecating

1. an uncommon variant of hypothesize.

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hypothecate ² American  

[hahy-poth-i-keyt] / haɪˈpɒθ ɪˌkeɪt /

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.

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hypothecate British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• hypothecater noun
• hypothecation noun
• hypothecator noun

Etymology

Origin of hypothecate¹

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

Origin of hypothecate¹

1675–85; < Medieval Latin 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.

From 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".

From 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.

From Economist

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

From Economist

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

From BBC