lien
UK[ˈliːən]US[ˈliːən]
n
a legal right to keep possession of property belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is discharged.
Etymology
the word "lien" entered english in the 16th century from anglo-french, where it meant "bond, fetter." this anglo-french term derived from the latin word "ligāmen," meaning "bond" or "tie," which itself comes from the verb "ligāre," "to bind." the semantic journey is direct: from the physical concept of a binding tie, the meaning evolved into the legal concept of a claim that binds property as security for an obligation. thus, the modern abstract legal right retains the core logic of being a binding hold over an asset.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from french. it does not contain separable morphemes within modern english spelling.
Examples
the bank holds a lien on the property until the mortgage is fully paid.
the mechanic placed a lien on the car for unpaid repair bills.
before purchasing the house, they discovered an old tax lien against it.