amortization/əˌmɔːtəˈzeɪʃən/EtymologyFrom Middle English amortisen (“to kill, alienate in mortmain”), from Anglo-Norman amorteser, alteration of Old French amortir, from Vulgar Latin *admortire (“to kill”), from Latin ad- and mors, mortem (“death”).nounThe reduction of loan principal over a series of payments.The distribution of the cost of an intangible asset, such as an intellectual property right, over the projected useful life of the asset.