amortize

One entry found for amortize.

Main Entry: am·or·tize
Pronunciation: 'a-m&r-"tIz also &-'mor-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -tized; -tiz·ing
Etymology: Middle English amortisen to kill, alienate in mortmain, from Anglo-French amorteser, alteration of amortir, from Vulgar Latin *admortire to kill, from Latin ad- + mort-, mors death -- more at MURDER
1 : to pay off (as a mortgage) gradually usually by periodic payments of principal and interest or by payments to a sinking fund
2 : to gradually reduce or write off the cost or value of (as an asset) <amortize goodwill> <amortize machinery>
- am·or·tiz·able /-"tI-z&-b&l/ adjective