lien
UK: liːn | US: liːn
n. a legal claim or right on assets as security for a debt or obligation.
lien = lie<to bind (Old French)> + n (noun suffix)
- lie (from Old French lien, meaning "bond, tie," derived from Latin ligāmen "a band, tie")
- n (noun-forming suffix, indicating the result or instrument of an action)
Etymology Origin:
The word lien traces back to Old French lien ("bond, tie"), which itself comes from Latin ligāmen ("a band, tie"), related to ligāre ("to bind"). The term entered English in the 14th century, retaining its legal sense of a binding claim on property to secure a debt. The morpheme lie- preserves the original spelling and meaning of "binding," while the suffix -n nominalizes the concept.
The bank holds a lien on the property until the mortgage is fully paid.
A mechanic may place a lien on a car if the owner fails to pay for repairs.
The court granted the creditor a lien against the debtor’s assets.
Removing a lien requires settling the outstanding debt.
Tax liens can severely impact a person’s credit score.