usurer

[ yoo-zher-er ]

noun

1. a person who lends money and charges interest, especially at an exorbitant or unlawful rate; moneylender.
2. Obsolete. a person who lends money at interest.

usurer

/ ˈjuːʒərə /

noun

1. a person who lends funds at an exorbitant rate of interest
2. obsolete.
   a moneylender

Word History and Origins

Origin of usurer¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin ūsūrārius, equivalent to ūsūr ( ia ) usury + Latin -ārius -ary

Example Sentences

Jews never belong enough anywhere to avoid vilification as parasites, vultures, usurers and traitors.

From New York Times

As Exodus 22:25 states: “If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.”

From Los Angeles Times

"The real enemies of Europe," she said, "Are the bankers, usurers and technocrats."

From Reuters

Congress has the power to – and should – drive usurers away from our military installations, because such lenders pose a risk to the national defense.

From US News

The bourgeois — a doctor, a merchant, a usurer — are his main target, their music rootless, full of inane little scales that crescendo to deafening, unconducted carnage that implodes into deserved nothingness.

From New York Times

Related Words

• backer
• banker
• broker
• capitalist
• entrepreneur
• merchant
• operator
• speculator
• stockbroker
• tycoon