Dead Hand Definition

noun
The ever-present, oppressive influence of past events.
American Heritage

Mortmain.

Webster's New World
Mortmain.
American Heritage
Synonyms:

Origin of Dead Hand

  • Middle English dede hond translation of Old French mortemain or Medieval Latin manus mortua mortmain

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Dead Hand Sentence Examples

  • His wife was mistress by his death-bed, and she could put the words she chose into the mouth of a dead man - and could move the dead hand at her will.

  • And when he now merely signs his name, it is "John Knox, with my dead hand and glad heart."

  • This was an act to prevent the further accumulation of landed property in the dead hand of religious persons and communities.

Related Articles

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to dead hand using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

DDEDEA

Words Ending With

DNDAND

Unscrambles

dead hand

Words Starting With D and Ending With D

Starts With D & Ends With DStarts With DE & Ends With DStarts With D & Ends With ND

Word Length

9 Letter Words9 Letter Words Starting With D9 Letter Words Ending With D