IN MORTUA MANU

in mortua manu (in mor-choo-[schwa] man-yoo), adj. & adv. [Law Latin “in a dead hand”] Hist. (Of property) perpetually controlled according to a decedent’s directions. • Land held by a religious society was described this way because the church could hold property perpetually without rendering feudal service. — Also termed in manu mortua. See DEADHAND […]