E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Foreclose.
To put an end to. A legal term, meaning to close before the time specified; e.g. suppose I held the mortgage of a man called A, and A fails to fulfil his part of the agreement, I can insist upon the mortgage being cancelled, foreclosing thus our agreement.
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“The embargo with Spain foreclosed this trade.”—Carew.
