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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
u·su·ry    Audio Help   [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.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
usury

To learn more about usury visit Britannica.com

© 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
u·su·ry    Audio Help   (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.
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
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.
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.
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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