Usury
['juːʒ(ə)rɪ] or ['juʒəri]
Definition
(noun.) the act of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest.
(noun.) an exorbitant or unlawful rate of interest.
Edited by Glenn--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) A premium or increase paid, or stipulated to be paid, for a loan, as of money; interest.
(v. t.) The practice of taking interest.
(v. t.) Interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money.
Checked by Laurie
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Illegal interest, exorbitant interest.
Typist: Terrence
Definition
n. the taking of iniquitous or illegal interest on a loan formerly interest of any kind on money lent.—v.i. U′sure (Shak.) to practise usury.—n. U′surer (orig. and in B.) any money-lender for interest: one who practises usury.—adj. Usū′rious.—adv. Usū′riously.—n. Usū′riousness.
Edited by Ian
Examples
- In his early days he was bitterly virtuous against usury; in his later he was devising ingenious schemes for safe usury. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Suffer your daughters, at least, to put their money to the exchangers, that they may be enabled at the Master's coming to pay Him His own with usury. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- This regulation, instead of preventing, has been found from experience to increase the evil of usury. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- Usury developed largely in the last thousand years B.C. Traders needed accommodation; cultivators wished to anticipate their crops. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
Checked by Casey