usurer
(ˈjuːzjʊərə(r))
Forms: α. 3–7 vsurer, 4–5 -ere, 5, Sc. 6 -ar; 5 usurere, 6– usurer. β. 4–6 vserer, 5 -ere, 6–7 userer (6 uss-).
[a. AF. usurer, userer, = OF. usureor, ad. med.L. ūsūrārius usurary n. Cf. usurier, and Sp. usurero, Pg. usurario, It. usurajo.]
One who practises usury or lends money at interest; a money-lender, esp. in later use one who charges an excessive rate of interest.
| α c 1290 St. Magdalena 117 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 465 An vsurer was ȝwilene, þat hadde dettores tweyne. 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 2611 Whan any vsurere was dede, Þe chercheȝerde þey hym forbede. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xi. 275 If prestes weren parfyt þei wolde..nouȝte [take] her mete of vsureres. c 1410 Lantern of Light 132 In þis chirche ben vsureris, okureris, iourours. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1906) 53 Other..ben bawdes and theues, usureres, bariters. 1551 T. Wilson Logike G ij, No Christian is an vsurer. 1584 Lodge Alarum agst. Usurers B iij, The Broker in this matter, getteth..thousand thankes of this diuellish Vsurer. 1606 Dekker Sev. Sins vi. (Arb.) 39 These are Vsurers: who for a little money..bring yong Nouices into a fooles Paradice till they haue sealed the Morgage of their landes. 1677 Wood Life (O.H.S.) II. 395 M{supr} Deane, the old usurer. 1742 Young Nt. Th. ii. 270 As all-rapacious usurers conceal Their doomsday-book from all-consuming heirs. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xvii. II. 70 The usurer, who derived from the interest of money a silent and ignominious profit. 1839 Dickens Nich. Nick. i, This promising lad commenced usurer on a limited scale at school. 1874 Ruskin Fors Clav. xliv. 129, I know myself to be an usurer as long as I take interest on any money. |
| β 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 2453 Cauuarsyns and vserers, Þys are, Lucyfer, þy peres. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 206/2 Gowlare, or vserere, usurarius. c 1450 Merlin xxiii. 434 The riche vserer that deliteth in his richesse. 1581 Southampton Crt. Leet Rec. (1906) ii. 221 Edwardes..is an extreme usserer. 1588 Marprel. Epist. (Arb.) 32 He beareth..to vserer Haruies good chear and money bags. 1616 R. Cocks Diary (Hakl. Soc.) I. 198 This man is a greate userer; and the King of Firando oweth hym much money. 1699 in E. W. Dunbar Soc. Life Moray (1865) 31 Under the certificating of being pursued as Occurrers or Userers. |
b. attrib. and
Comb., as
usurer class,
usurer-like.
| 1729 Boyre Dict. Royal 1, Usurairement, usurer-like. 1892 Pall Mall G. 23 April 7/1 The usurer-ridden peasantry and overworked operatives. 1902 Fabian News May 20/1 The landlord and usurer classes of India. |