English noun: dead hand | |||
| 1. | dead hand (possession) real property held inalienably (as by an ecclesiastical corporation) | ||
| Synonyms | mortmain | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | immovable, real estate, real property, realty | ||
| Domain category | corp, corporation | ||
| 2. | dead hand (attribute) the oppressive influence of past events or decisions | ||
| Synonyms | dead hand of the past, mortmain | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | influence | ||