usury - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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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

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

u·su·ry Audio Help (yōō'zhə-rē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. u·su·ries

The practice of lending money and charging the borrower interest, especially at an exorbitant or illegally high rate.
An excessive or illegally high rate of interest charged on borrowed money.
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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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.

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

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

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.

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