DEAD HAND

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

Meaning:

The oppressive influence of past events or decisions

Synonyms:

dead hand; dead hand of the past; mortmain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("dead hand" is a kind of...):

influence (a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc)

Meaning:

Real property held inalienably (as by an ecclesiastical corporation)

Synonyms:

dead hand; mortmain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("dead hand" is a kind of...):

immovable; real estate; real property; realty (property consisting of houses and land)

Domain category:

corp; corporation (a business firm whose articles of incorporation have been approved in some state)