1. the legal restriction preventing the transfer of land to a corporation or religious institution in perpetuity
Usage: legal; historical
2. the oppressive influence of the past or tradition
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The statute of mortmain prevented the monastery from acquiring more land.
• Medieval laws of mortmain were designed to limit church property holdings.
• The king enacted mortmain legislation to protect royal revenues.
• She felt trapped by the mortmain of family expectations.
• The company struggled under the mortmain of outdated policies.
• Historical mortmain laws shaped modern property regulations.