Usury

Pronunciation

• enPR: yoÍžo'zhÉ™-rÄ“, IPA: /ˈjuʒəɹi/

Origin

From Latin usuria, from usura "lending at interest, usury" from usus 'use', from stem of uti 'to use'

Noun

1. (countable) An exorbitant rate of interest, in excess of any legal rates or at least immorally.
2. (uncountable) The practice of lending money at such rates.
3. (uncountable, archaic) The practice of lending money at interest.
• 4th Century BCE, , , Book I, Part X,"The most hated sort, and with the greatest reason, is usury, which makes a gain out of money itself, and not from the natural object of it. For money was intended to be used in exchange, but not to increase at interest."

Related terms

• usurer
• usuress
• usurial
• usurious, usuriously, usuriousness