Usury
/ˈjuːʒəri/noun
The practice of lending money at interest, especially at an excessive or illegal rate.
Did you know?In medieval Europe, usury was condemned by the Church so intensely that the word itself became tied to moral corruption, not just finance.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂eus-
“to enjoy, make use of”
Latin
Latin
ūsus
“use, practice, enjoyment”
Late Latin
Latin
ūsūria
“interest on money; the practice of taking interest”
Old French
Old French
usure
“interest on a loan; excessive interest”
Middle English
English
usure
“interest charged on a loan, especially unlawfully high interest”
Modern English
English
usury
“the lending of money at interest, especially at an excessive rate”