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Possession of lands or tenements in, or conveyance to, dead hands, or hands that cannot alienate.

The reducing or lands or tenements to mortmain. See Mortmain.

to a corporation, which was considered formerly as transferring them to dead hands, or in mortmain.

To alienate in mortmain, that is, to convey to a corporation. See Mortmain.

hat can not alienate, as of a person civilly dead. "Serfs held in dead hand." Morley. See Mortmain. -- Dead head (Naut.), a rough block of wood used as an anchor buoy. -- Dead heat, a heat or course between two or more race horses, boats, etc., in which they come out exactly equal, so that neither wins. -- Dead hors…

orfeited; subject to forfeiture. For the future, uses shall be subject to the statutes of mortmain, and forfeitable, like the lands themselves. Blackstone.

A gift to some charitable or religious institution; -- nearly synonymous with mortmain.

or effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention or endeavors. The stature of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legilature. Swift.