Definitions for Usury
ˈyu ʒə riusu·ry

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. usury, vigorishnoun

   an exorbitant or unlawful rate of interest

2. usurynoun

   the act of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. usurynoun

   An exorbitant rate of interest, in excess of any legal rates or at least immorally.

2. usurynoun

   The practice of lending money at such rates.

3. usurynoun

   The practice of lending money at interest.

4. Etymology: From usuria, from usura "lending at interest, usury" from usus 'use', from stem of uti 'to use'

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Usury

   Etymology: usuré, Fr. usura, Lat.

   1. Money paid for the use of money; interest.

   He that high does sit, and all things see,
   With equal eyes, their merits to restore;
   Behold, what ye this day have done for me,
   And what I cannot quit, requite with usury. Fairy Queen.

   The wished day is come at last,
   That shall, for all the pains and sorrows past,
   Pay to her usury of long delight. Edmund Spenser.

   Our angles are like money put to usury; they may thrive, though we sit still and do nothing. Izaak Walton, Angler.

   What he borrows from the antients, he repays with usury of his own; in coin as good, and almost as universally valuable. John Dryden, Juvenal. Dedication to.

   2. The practice of taking interest. It is commonly used with some reproach.

   Usury bringeth the treasure of a realm into few hands: for the usurer being at certainties, and others at uncertainties, at the end, most of the money will be in the box. Francis Bacon.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Usury

   Usury () is the practice of making unethical or immoral monetary loans that unfairly enrich the lender. The term may be used in a moral sense—condemning taking advantage of others' misfortunes—or in a legal sense, where an interest rate is charged in excess of the maximum rate that is allowed by law. A loan may be considered usurious because of excessive or abusive interest rates or other factors defined by the laws of a state. Someone who practices usury can be called a usurer, but in modern colloquial English may be called a loan shark. In many historical societies including ancient Christian, Jewish, and Islamic societies, usury meant the charging of interest of any kind, and was considered wrong, or was made illegal. During the Sutra period in India (7th to 2nd centuries BC) there were laws prohibiting the highest castes from practicing usury. Similar condemnations are found in religious texts from Buddhism, Judaism (ribbit in Hebrew), Christianity, and Islam (riba in Arabic). At times, many states from ancient Greece to ancient Rome have outlawed loans with any interest. Though the Roman Empire eventually allowed loans with carefully restricted interest rates, the Catholic Church in medieval Europe, as well as the Reformed Churches, regarded the charging of interest at any rate as sinful (as well as charging a fee for the use of money, such as at a bureau de change). Religious prohibitions on usury are predicated upon the belief that charging interest on a loan is a sin.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. usury

   Usury is the act of lending money at exorbitantly high interest rates, especially rates above the legal or socially acceptable limit. It often involves exploiting the borrower's financial situation, thus making it difficult for them to repay the debt. Usury laws have been established in many regions to protect consumers from such predatory lending practices.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Usuryverb

   a premium or increase paid, or stipulated to be paid, for a loan, as of money; interest

2. Usuryverb

   the practice of taking interest

3. Usuryverb

   interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Usury

   Usury is the practice of making unethical or immoral monetary loans. Depending on the local laws or social mores, a loan may be considered usurious because of excessive or abusive interest rates. According to some jurisdictions and customs, simply charging any interest at all can be considered usury. Other terms used for usury or usurers include loan shark, as well as Shylock which is sometimes used with an antisemitic connotation. The term may be used in a moral sense — condemning taking advantage of others' misfortunes — or in a legal sense where interest rates may be regulated by law. Historically, some cultures have regarded charging any interest for loans as sinful. Some of the earliest known condemnations of usury come from the Vedic texts of India. Similar condemnations are found in religious texts from Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. At times, many nations from ancient China to ancient Greece to ancient Rome have outlawed loans with any interest. Though the Roman Empire eventually allowed loans with carefully restricted interest rates, the Christian church in medieval Europe banned the charging of interest at any rate.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Usury

   ū′zhū-ri, 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. [L. usura—uti, usus, to use.]

Matched Categories

1. • Lending

How to pronounce Usury?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Usury in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Usury in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Usury in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of Usury in a Sentence

1. Lawrence Dennis:

   It comes as news to most people to learn that practically all important ethical teachers -- Moses, Aristotle, Jesus, Mohammed, and Saint Thomas Aquinas, for instance -- have denounced lending at interest as usury and as morally wrong.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Usury
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Usury
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=Usury
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usury
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Usury
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Usury
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Usury