escrow
UK[ˈeskrəʊ]US[ˈeskroʊ]
n
a legal arrangement in which money or property is kept by a third party until a particular condition is fulfilled.
n
the money or property held in such an arrangement.
Etymology
the word 'escrow' entered english in the late 16th century from the anglo-norman french term 'escrow(e)', which itself derived from old french 'escroe', meaning a scrap, roll, or scroll of parchment. this old french term has its origins in a frankish word, likely related to old high german 'scrot', meaning a scrap or shred. the semantic journey is from a physical piece of parchment, which was a common medium for legal documents, to the specific legal concept of a deed or bond held by a third party. over time, the term became exclusively associated with the financial and legal arrangement where an asset is held in trust pending the fulfillment of a condition, solidifying its modern abstract meaning.
Analysis
the entire word 'escrow' is treated as a single, unsegmentable unit in modern english. it is a loanword from old french.
Examples
the funds were placed in escrow until the completion of the home inspection.
the buyer and seller agreed to use an escrow service for the online transaction.
the contract stipulates that the documents will be held in escrow by the lawyer.