Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day: “Amortize”

Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Peter Sokolowski

Episode Overview

In this episode, Merriam-Webster’s Peter Sokolowski introduces the word “amortize” as the Word of the Day. The episode explores both its practical usage in modern finance and its fascinating etymological roots, delivering insights into how “amortize” evolved from medieval legal jargon to everyday financial vocabulary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Usage

• Definition given:
  “To amortize something, such as a mortgage, is to pay for it by making regular payments over a long period of time.” (00:41)
• The word can be pronounced either amortize or amortize.
• Spelling: A-M-O-R-T-I-Z-E
• Example sentence:
  “The warrants are priced at fair market value on the date of vesting and amortized over 10 years.” (00:54)

2. Etymology and Historical Context

• The host explains how the act of amortizing a loan is like “figuratively killing it off by paying it down in installments, an idea reflected in the etymology of the word amortizement.” (01:04)
• Origins:
  • From Latin “mors” meaning “death,” which is also the source for “murder.”
  • The process of amortization originally described the transferring of property—especially to ecclesiastical corporations (i.e., church entities)—dating back to the 14th century.
• Mortmain:
  • Originally, land given to religious corporations would be in “mortmain” (“dead hand”), meaning it was permanently exempt from a feudal lord’s collections.
  • “Its second syllable comes from the Latin word ‘manus,’ meaning hand, the implication being that the property was held in the dead hand of a corporation, a hand incapable of paying.” (01:49)

3. Interesting Linguistic Connections

• The word “amortize” is etymologically connected to “murder” and to “mortgage”—another Morse (death) word.
• Early uses and legal applications connect “amortize” to property law, the feudal system, and church holdings.

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• “When you amortize a loan, you figuratively kill it off by paying it down in installments, an idea reflected in the etymology of the word amortizement.”
  —Peter Sokolowski, 01:04

• “Mortmain is, of course, another Morse word. Its second syllable comes from the Latin word manus, meaning hand, the implication being that the property was held in the dead hand of a corporation, a hand incapable of paying.”
  —Peter Sokolowski, 01:49

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:41 – Introduction of “amortize,” its pronunciation, spelling, and basic definition
• 00:54 – Example sentence from the financial world (NFL equity and warrants)
• 01:04 – Explanation of “killing off” a loan as part of the word’s etymology
• 01:18 – Early legal and ecclesiastical use in land ownership, the origin of “mortmain”
• 01:49 – The meaning behind “mortmain” (dead hand) and its Latin roots

Tone and Style

Peter Sokolowski maintains a warm, informative, and slightly playful tone, delighting in etymological connections and linguistic trivia, making complex word histories accessible and engaging.

Summary Takeaway

This episode not only explains how we “kill off” debts through amortization but also traces the word’s lineage from somber Latin roots about death to modern finance—revealing the richness and depth of everyday vocabulary.