usury
UK: ˈjuːʒəri | US: ˈjuːʒəri
n. the practice of lending money at unreasonably high interest rates
n. (historical) interest charged on a loan, especially when excessive
The word usury originates from Latin usura (interest, payment for use), rooted in uti (to use). It reflects the medieval concept of charging for the "use" of borrowed money. Initially neutral, it later gained negative connotations due to religious and ethical prohibitions against excessive interest (e.g., in Christianity and Islam). The morpheme us- preserves the core idea of "use," while -ury marks it as a formal practice.
Medieval churches condemned usury as a sin against charity.
Modern laws regulate usury to protect borrowers from exploitation.
The merchant was accused of usury for demanding 50% interest.
In Dante’s Inferno, usurers are punished in the seventh circle of hell.
Some argue that payday loans border on usury due to their high rates.