usury

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points: 8
Words With Friends: 9
Letters: 5

Pronunciation

/ˈjuːʒəɹi/

Definition of usury

4 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

noun

(countable)An exorbitant rate of interest, in excess of any legal rates or at least immorally.

See all 4 definitions

noun

(countable)An exorbitant rate of interest, in excess of any legal rates or at least immorally.
(uncountable)The practice of lending money at such rates.

“As a practical matter, California usury laws do not seriously inconvenience most lenders, and offer little protection to most borrowers.”
(archaic, historical, uncountable)The practice of lending money at interest.

“In medieval Europe, Jews were often linked to usury and therefore persecuted by authorities.”
“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.”
(obsolete, uncountable)Profit.

“Then will we march to all thoſe Indian Mines, My witleſſe brother to the Chriſtians loſt: And ranſome them with fame and vſurie.”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle English usurie, from Latin ūsūria, from ūsūra (“lending at interest, usury”) from ūsus (“use”), from stem of ūtī (“to use”). Compare usurp and use.