foreclose
UK: fɔːˈkləʊz | US: fɔːrˈkloʊz
vt. 1. To take legal action to terminate a mortgage and reclaim the property due to unpaid debt.
vt. 2. To exclude or prevent an option or possibility.
foreclose = fore<before> + close<shut>
- fore (from Old English fore, meaning "before" or "in front of")
- close (from Latin claudere, meaning "to shut" or "to end")
Etymology Origin:
The word foreclose originated in Middle English as a legal term, combining fore- (indicating precedence) and close (to shut). It originally described the act of "shutting out" a debtor’s right to reclaim mortgaged property by settling the debt. Over time, it expanded metaphorically to mean "to exclude or prevent." The logic reflects the irreversible nature of legal seizure—once the process begins, the debtor’s opportunity is "shut beforehand."
The bank threatened to foreclose on their home after months of missed payments.
His stubborn attitude foreclosed any chance of negotiation.
The new policy could foreclose opportunities for small businesses.
They managed to avoid foreclosure by refinancing their loan.
The court ruled in favor of foreclosing the property.