usury

Noun

usury (countable and uncountable, plural usuries)

1. (countable) An exorbitant rate of interest, in excess of any legal rates or at least immorally.
2. (uncountable) The practice of lending money at such rates.
   • As a practical matter, California usury laws do not seriously inconvenience most lenders, and offer little protection to most borrowers.2018 May, June Lin, “California Usury Laws”, in Niesar & Vestal LLP, page 1
3. (archaic, historical, uncountable) The practice of lending money at interest.
   • In medieval Europe, Jews were often linked to usury and therefore persecuted by authorities.
   • The most hated sort, and with the greatest reason, is usury, which makes a gain out of money itself, and not from the natural object of it. For money was intended to be used in exchange, but not to increase at interest.4th century BCE, Aristotle, translated by Benjamin Jowett, Politics, Book I, Part X
4. (obsolete, uncountable) Profit.
   • Then will we march to all thoſe Indian Mines,
     My witleſſe brother to the Chriſtians loſt:
     And ranſome them with fame and vſurie.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC...