Usury

Pronunciation: /ˈjuʒəri/

Definitions of usury

noun an exorbitant or unlawful rate of interest

Example Sentences

A1 Usury is the practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest.

A2 Some people believe that usury is unethical and takes advantage of those in financial need.

B1 The government has laws in place to regulate usury and protect consumers from predatory lending practices.

B2 Financial institutions often face criticism for engaging in usury and exploiting vulnerable individuals.

C1 Economists debate the effects of usury on economic growth and income inequality.

C2 The debate over usury continues among policymakers, with some advocating for stricter regulations to combat financial exploitation.

Examples of usury in a Sentence

formal Usury is the practice of charging excessive interest on loans.

informal I can't believe the usury rates some credit card companies charge.

slang That payday loan place is known for their usury tactics.

figurative The usury of time is when you waste precious moments on things that don't matter.

Grammatical Forms of usury

• past tense: usuried
• plural: usuries
• comparative: more usurious
• superlative: most usurious
• present tense: usury
• future tense: will usury
• perfect tense: has usuryed
• continuous tense: is usurying
• singular: usury
• positive degree: usurious
• infinitive: to usury
• gerund: usurying
• participle: usuryed

Origin and Evolution of usury

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'usury' originated from the Latin word 'usura', which means 'interest'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to the practice of charging excessive interest on loans, the meaning of 'usury' has evolved to encompass any form of unethical or excessive lending practices.