\Mort"gage\, n. [F. mort-gage; mort dead (L. mortuus) +
gage pledge. See {Mortal}, and {Gage}.]
1. (Law) A conveyance of property, upon condition, as
   security for the payment of a debt or the preformance of a
   duty, and to become void upon payment or performance
   according to the stipulated terms; also, the written
   instrument by which the conveyance is made.
Note: It was called a mortgage (or dead pledge) because,
      whatever profit it might yield, it did not thereby
      redeem itself, but became lost or dead to the mortgager
      upon breach of the condition. But in equity a right of
      redemption is an inseparable incident of a mortgage
      until the mortgager is debarred by his own laches, or
      by judicial decree. --Cowell. Kent.
2. State of being pledged; as, lands given in mortgage.
{Chattel mortgage}. See under {Chattel}.
{To foreclose a mortgage}. See under {Foreclose}.
{Mortgage deed} (Law), a deed given by way of mortgage.

\Mort"gage\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mortgaged}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Mortgaging}.]
1. (Law) To grant or convey, as property, for the security of
   a debt, or other engagement, upon a condition that if the
   debt or engagement shall be discharged according to the
   contract, the conveyance shall be void, otherwise to
   become absolute, subject, however, to the right of
   redemption.
2. Hence: To pledge, either literally or figuratively; to
   make subject to a claim or obligation.
         Mortgaging their lives to covetise.   --Spenser.
         I myself an mortgaged to thy will.    --Shak.