ETYM Old Eng. usurie, usure, French usure, Latin usura use, usury, interest, from uti, p. p. usus, to use. Related to Use.
An exorbitant or unlawful rate of interest.
Former term for charging interest on a loan of money. In medieval times, usury was held to be a sin, and Christians were forbidden to lend (although not to borrow).
The practice of charging interest is still regarded as usury in some Muslim countries.