usurer
/ˈjuːʒəɹəɹ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.70 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A person who loans money to others and charges interest, particularly at an exorbitant, exploitative, or illegal rate.
Example Sentences
- "Vſurers, you are none of theſe cryers vnto God, but thoſe that hourely vnto God are most cryde out againſt. God hath cryde out vnto you by his Preachers, GOD hath cride out vnto you by the poore ; Pryſoners on their death-beds haue cride out of you : and when they haue had but one houre to interceſſionate for their ſoules, and ſue out the pardon of their numberleſſe ſins, the whole of that howre (ſauing one minute, when in two words they cryde for mercy,) haue they ſpent, in crying for vengeance againſt you."
- "Profitless usurer, why dost thou use So great a sum of sums, yet canst not live?"
- ""You can go to the Carpetbag usurers if you want money.""
Etymology
Anglo-Norman, from Old French usurier, Latin ūsūra (“interest”).
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈjuːʒəɹəɹ/
- British English: /ˈjuːʒəɹə/