Antichresis

Antichresis [fr. avtlxpnois, Gk.], in the Civil Law a covenant or convention whereby a person borrowing money of another engages or makes over his lands or goods to the creditor, with the use and occupation thereof, for the interest of the money lent. This covenant was allowed by the Romans, among whom usury was prohibited; it was afterwards called MORT-gage to distinguish it from a simple engagement, where the fruits of the ground were not alienated, which was called VIF-gage, i.e., vivum vadium. The obsolete Welsh mortgage bears a resemblance to this kind of pledge, I Domat, b. iii. Tit. I. s. i art. 28; Story on Bailments, 307, par. 344.