usurer

Anglo-Norman, from Old French usurier, Latin ūsūra (“interest”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈjuːʒəɹə/, /ˈjuːzjəɹə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈjuːʒəɹəɹ/, /ˈjuːʒɹəɹ/[1]

usurer (plural usurers)

1. A person who loans money to others and charges interest, particularly at an illegal, exorbitant, or unfair rate.
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 4:

     Profitless usurer, why dost thou use

     So great a sum of sums, yet canst not live?

   • 1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, chapter XLIII

     "You can go to the Carpetbag usurers if you want money."

2. (rare) Specifically, a male usurer.

• banker, loan shark

• saraf (early modern Middle East & India), shroff (early modern India & SE Asia)

• usuress (rare)
• usurial
• usurious
• usury

• rusure

usurer (plural usurers)

1. Alternative form of usurere

• “ūsū̆rer(e (n.)” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-03-31.

usurer

1. indefinite plural of usur