Show from the latin from mors the latin word tor death canies conies an old english word mort 1 meaning both death and dead gage Is equivalent to pledge as in the phrase gage of battle BO mortgage means dead pledge the idea behind it Is thus explained by sir edward coke attorney general to king james I 1 it that the cause why it Is called mortgage Is for that it Is doubtful whether the will pay at the day limited such or not if he doth not pay then the land which is put in pledge upon condition for the payment of the money Is taken from him korevec and so dead to him kansas city times |