usury

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an exorbitant or unlawful rate of interest
  2. noun the act of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest

Etymology

From Middle English usurie, from Latin ūsūria, from ūsūra (“lending at interest, usury”) from ūsus (“use”), from stem of ūtī (“to use”). Compare usurp and use.

In classic literature

Synonyms

vigorish

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