What is Impignorate? Definition, History, and Legal Context

Impignorate is a verb that means to pawn or pledge something as security for a loan. It is derived from the Latin words "in" meaning "in" and "pignorare" meaning "to pawn". The word is not commonly used in modern English, but it can be found in legal and historical contexts.

For example, in the past, kings and nobles would often impignorate their royal jewels or other valuable possessions to raise funds for military campaigns or other expenses. This practice was known as "pledging the crown jewels" and it allowed them to use the value of these items as collateral for loans.

In legal contexts, impignorate can refer to the act of pledging property as security for a debt or obligation. It is often used in conjunction with other words such as "mortgage" or "lien" to describe the process of using property as collateral for a loan.

Overall, impignorate is a word that is not commonly used in everyday language, but it has a rich history and can be found in legal and historical contexts.