foreclose

From Middle English foreclosen, forclosen, from Old French forclos, past participle of forclore (“to exclude”), from for + clore (“to shut”). Some senses originated from or were influenced by Middle English forclusen (“to close up”), from Old English forclȳsan (“to close up”), equivalent to for- +‎ close.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌfɔːˈkləʊz/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌfɔɹˈkloʊz/
• Rhymes: -əʊz

foreclose (third-person singular simple present forecloses, present participle foreclosing, simple past and past participle foreclosed)

1. (transitive) To repossess a mortgaged property whose owner has failed to make the necessary payments; used with on.

   They have to move out of their house because the bank foreclosed on their mortgage.

2. (transitive) To cut off (a mortgager) by a judgment of court from the power of redeeming the mortgaged premises.
3. (transitive) To prevent from doing something.
4. (transitive) To shut up or out; to preclude; to stop; to prevent; to bar; to exclude.
   • Carew

     The embargo with Spain foreclosed this trade.

• foreclosee
• forecloser
• foreclosure
• foreclosable