usury

[ yoo-zhuh-ree ]

noun

, plural u·su·ries.

1. the lending or practice of lending money at an exorbitant interest.
2. an exorbitant amount or rate of interest, especially in excess of the legal rate.
3. Obsolete. interest paid for the use of money.

usury

/ ˈjuːʒərɪ; juːˈʒʊərɪəs /

noun

1. the act or practice of loaning money at an exorbitant rate of interest
2. an exorbitant or unlawfully high amount or rate of interest
3. obsolete.
   moneylending

usury

1. The practice of charging more than the legal interest rate .

Derived Forms

• usurious, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of usury¹

1275–1325; Middle English usurie < Medieval Latin ūsūria (compare Latin ūsūra ), equivalent to Latin ūs ( us ) ( use ) + -ūr ( a ) -ure + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of usury¹

C14: from Medieval Latin ūsūria, from Latin ūsūra usage, from ūsus use

Example Sentences

Other pages on his site appear to criticise "fiat money" - commonly used currencies as opposed to gold and digital tokens like Bitcoin - and usury, the charging of interest on loans.

From BBC

In 2018, he repeated a claim about usury and Ashkenazi Jews similar to the one he made in his speech to Fatah members last month.

From Seattle Times

“These people were fought because of their social function related to money, usury,” Abbas said in the speech.

From Washington Times

Later, he specifies that he was referring to the role of Jews involving "usury, money and so on".

From BBC

You can read injunctions against usury in the Vedic texts of ancient India, in the sutras of Buddhism and in the Torah.

From New York Times