What is usurer? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of usurer

usurernoun

người cho vay nặng lãi

/ˈjuːʒərə(r)//ˈjuːʒərər/

Where does the word usurer come from?

The word "usurer" originated during the Middle Ages, a time when lending money was a prominent business activity. The term "usury" described the practice of charging interest on loans. However, the Catholic Church considered charging interest on loans to be a sin because it was seen as exploitative and contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ, who forgave debts. In response to this, lenders attempted to avoid the prohibition against usury by defining it as a percentage of the loan's face value rather than an additional fee. This led to the creation of a new word, "usurer," to describe those who engaged in this practice. The term was derived from the Old French word "usurier," which meant one who took unlawful advantage or seized something unjustly. As the concept of charging interest evolved and was more widely accepted in European societies, the negative connotation associated with "usury" dissipated, and the term fell out of regular use. Today, the word "usurer" is seldom used, with the more common term being "lender" or "financier." Nonetheless, the history of the term "usurer" provides insight into historical attitudes towards lending and the complex relationship between religion, economics, and social norms.

Vocabulary summary usurer

typenoun

meaningloan shark

Example of vocabulary usurernamespace

  • The small town's economy suffered greatly due to the high interest rates charged by the local usurers.
  • Against the advice of his friends, John decided to borrow money from a notorious usurer, resulting in ruinous debt that took years to repay.
  • The church condemned the practice of usury, as lending money at exorbitant interest rates went against the Christian value of charity.
  • As a result of his excessive gambling habit, James turned to usury as a means of repaying his debts, but this only led to him being trapped in a cycle of owing and lending.
  • The usurer demanded a huge sum of interest with every loan, leaving many people trapped in a cycle of debt that was nearly impossible to escape.

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