statutes of mortmain

1

: any of various English statutes restricting alienation of land in mortmain (as to an ecclesiastical corporation) for the purpose of preserving to the lords the feudal rights of relief, wardship, marriage, and escheat which conveyance in mortmain took away or of preventing undue accumulation of wealth in the hands of corporations

2

: any of various statutes having purposes similar to those set forth in the English statutes of mortmain

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