lien — a legal claim on property as security for a debt
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a legal claim on property as security for a debt
Pronunciation (IPA): /liːn/
Example Sentences
- After missing three car payments, the dealership put a lien on his vehicle faster than he could say 'repo man'.
- The contractor filed a mechanic's lien when the homeowner refused to pay for the kitchen renovation.
- She discovered the property had a tax lien when trying to buy her dream house - talk about a nightmare!
lien
NOUN[/liːn/]
a legal claim on property as security for a debt
a legal claim on property as security for a debt
A lien on a home so lean yet clean
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Lien derives from Old French lien, meaning 'bond' or 'tie,' which ultimately traces back to Latin ligamen, itself derived from ligare meaning 'to bind' or 'to connect.' The term metaphorically extends the concept of a physical binding to a legal connection between a debt and property.
Breakdown
Old French lien (bond, tie) < Latin ligamen (bond) < ligare (to bind, to connect). The root ligare conveys the essential meaning of binding or fastening together, which evolved into the legal sense of securing a claim against property.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After missing three car payments, the dealership put a lien on his vehicle faster than he could say 'repo man'.”
“The contractor filed a mechanic's lien when the homeowner refused to pay for the kitchen renovation.”
“She discovered the property had a tax lien when trying to buy her dream house - talk about a nightmare!”
“The bank will release the lien once the mortgage is fully paid off.”
📚Related Words
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