hypothecate

¹ 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 ² 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 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

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”; see hypo- ( def. ), thesis ( def. )) + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

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

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2024

If they had no property real or personal to hypothecate, they could borrow on their personal credit only from usurers, who charged 20% and more interest.

From Time Magazine Archive

"He is trying to hypothecate the lot or any part of it at one-fifty."

From The Titan by Dreiser, Theodore

He will not repudiate a promise to pay while he has money in bank or securities to hypothecate.

From The Pride of Palomar by Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard)

Then you hypothecate your stock in company number one, and you have your dummy directors lend you more money, and you buy another trust company.

From The Moneychangers by Sinclair, Upton