USURY: "the practice of charging an exhorbitant or illegal rate of interest"
"Usury" is a noun that refers to the illegal or unethical practice of charging excessive or unlawfully high interest rates on loans, especially to the extent that it exploits or takes advantage of the borrower.
Etymology: The word "usury" has its roots in Latin, from "usura," meaning "interest" or "usury." It entered Old French as "usure" before being adopted into English in the late Middle Ages.
Sample Sentences:
The government imposed strict regulations to prevent the practice of usury by lenders.
The loan shark was prosecuted for engaging in usury, exploiting vulnerable individuals in need of financial assistance.
Religious texts often condemn the sin of usury, warning against exploiting others for financial gain.
The community advocated for fair lending practices and campaigned against institutions involved in usury.
Many countries have laws in place to protect consumers from falling victim to usurious lending practices.
Synonyms: predatory lending, loan sharking
Antonyms: fair lending, fair finance
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