Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun dead_hand_of_the_past

1 sense of dead hand of the past

Sense 1
dead hand, dead hand of the past, mortmain -- (the oppressive influence of past events or decisions)
       => influence -- (a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc; "used her parents' influence to get the job")