hypothec

H4Y4P3O1T1H4E1C3
UK/haɪˈpɒθ.ɪk/UK/hɪˈ-/US/haɪˈpɑ.θɪk/

noun

In Scotland, a landlord's right over the stocking (cattle, implements, etc.), and crops of his tenant, as security for payment of rent.

“...saddle and all, the whole hypothec turned round and grovelled in the dust below the donkey’s belly.”

OriginLatin hypothēca ← Ancient Greek ὑποθήκη →
Scrabble 21
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Meanings

nounhypothec (usually uncountable, plural hypothecs)

plural hypothecs

  1. uncountableusuallylawIn Scotland, a landlord's right over the stocking (cattle, implements, etc.), and crops of his tenant, as security for payment of rent.
  2. uncountableusuallylawIn Québec, a legal right over property used as security for an obligation, such as a mortgage.
  3. colloquialuncountableusuallyEverything; the whole lot.

    ...saddle and all, the whole hypothec turned round and grovelled in the dust below the donkey’s belly.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὑποθήκη“warning, pledge”
  2. Latinhypothēca“pledge, mortgage”
  3. Englishhypothec

From Latin hypothēca (“pledge, mortgage”), from Ancient Greek ὑποθήκη (hupothḗkē, “warning, pledge”).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with hypothec

gothicVisigothicOstrogothicSothicSouthern Gothicwhimsigothic
All rhymes →

Anagrams

photechy
Cite this entry
APA

hypothec. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hypothec

MLA

“hypothec.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hypothec. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hypothec,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hypothec.

Source: hypothec on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.