C16: from Late Latin hypotheca a security, from Greek hupothēkē deposit, pledge, from hupotithenai to deposit as a security, place under, from hypo- + tithenai to place
hypothec in American English
(haɪˈpɑθˌɛk; haɪˈpɑθɪk; hɪˈpɑθˌɛk; hɪˈpɑθɪk)
noun
Civil
security or right given to a creditor over a debtor's property without transfer of possession or title
Word origin
Fr hypothèque < LL hypotheca, a pledge, security < Gr hypothēkē, something put under (obligation), pledge < hypotithenai, to put under, pledge: see hypothesis