tr.v. am·or·tized, am·or·tiz·ing, am·or·tiz·es 1. To liquidate (a debt, such as a mortgage) by installment payments or payment into a sinking fund. 2. To write off an expenditure for (an asset, especially an intangible one, such as a patent) by prorating over a certain period, usually the expected duration of the asset's benefit. [Middle English amortisen, to alienate in mortmain, from Old French amortir, amortiss-, from Vulgar Latin *admortīre, to deaden : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin mors, mort-, death; see mer- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] amor·tiz′a·ble adj. |
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