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Usury
9 dictionary results for: Usury
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
u·su·ry       [yoo-zhuh-ree] Pronunciation Key
–noun, plural -ries.
1.the lending or practice of lending money at an exorbitant interest.
2.an exorbitant amount or rate of interest, esp. in excess of the legal rate.
3.Obsolete. interest paid for the use of money.
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME usurie < ML ūsūria (cf. L ūsūra), equiv. to L ūs(us) (see use) + -ūr(a) -ure + -ia -y3]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
u·su·ry       (yōō'zhə-rē)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   pl. u·su·ries
  1. The practice of lending money and charging the borrower interest, especially at an exorbitant or illegally high rate.
  2. An excessive or illegally high rate of interest charged on borrowed money.
  3. Archaic Interest charged or paid on a loan.


[Middle English, from Medieval Latin ūsūria, alteration of Latin ūsūra, from ūsus, use; see usual.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
usury 
1303, from M.L. usuria, from L. usura "usury, interest," from usus, from stem of uti (see use). Originally the practice of lending money at interest, later, at excessive rates of interest.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
usury

noun
1. an exorbitant or unlawful rate of interest 
2. the act of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
usury [(yooh-zhuh-ree)]

The practice of charging more than the legal interest rate.


[Chapter:] Business and Economics


The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Investopedia - Cite This Source - Share This

Usury

The act of lending money at an interest rate higher than that permitted by law.

Investopedia Commentary

This is an illegal practice. Different regions have prescribed interest rates that cannot be exceeded.

See also: Interest Rate, Loan

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: usu·ry
Pronunciation: 'yü-zh&-rE
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin usuria interest, lending at exorbitant interest, alterationof Latin usura use, interest (i.e., sum paid for use of money), from usus use
1 : the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates; specifically : thecrime of charging or contracting to charge an unlawfully high rate of interest
2 : a rate or amount of interest charged in usury —compare legal interest at INTEREST 5

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Usury

U"su*rer\, n. [F. usurier, LL. usurarius. See Usury, and cf. Usurarious.]

1. One who lends money and takes interest for it; a money lender. [Obs.]

If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. --Ex. xxii. 25.

2. One who lends money at a rate of interest beyond that established by law; one who exacts an exorbitant rate of interest for the use of money.

He was wont to call me usurer. --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Usury

the sum paid for the use of money, hence interest; not, as in the modern sense, exorbitant interest. The Jews were forbidden to exact usury (Lev. 25:36, 37), only, however, in their dealings with each other (Deut. 23:19, 20). The violation of this law was viewed as a great crime (Ps. 15:5; Prov. 28:8; Jer. 15:10). After the Return, and later, this law was much neglected (Neh. 5:7, 10).

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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