Middle English Dictionary Entry
ūsūre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ūsūre n. Also usur, user(e. |
| Etymology | OF (chiefly AF) usure, AF usere & L ūsūra; a few forms in -e may = -ẹ̄ and belong to ME ūsū̆rī(e n., along with some plurals in -is. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The practice of lending money for interest or gain, usury; also fig. and in fig. context;
(b) a usurious act or practice; also in fig. context;
(c) the vice of usury personified.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1387) Wimbledon Serm.(Corp-C 357)86/409 : Bewar, ȝee þat haueþ geten any worldly good, oþer take by extorciones, by raueyne, by vsure, oþer by disceit.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.40 : Vsure And Auarice and oþes I defende.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4490 : Touchende usure…Which as ye telle in love is used, Mi ladi mai noght ben excused; That for o lokinge of hire ye Min hole herte til I dye…Sche hath me wonne.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.347 : No maner marchaunt þat with moneye deleth…wynne wyth riȝte, with wronge, or with vsure.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5797 : He shulde yeue that most good hadde To hem that weren in nede bistadde, And lyue withoute false vsure.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)282/10 : Þei trespasse and vse wrecchid vsure which I haue forbode.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)115/113 : Þese were makers of mone with cursid entent, With wrong mokerers, false mesurs, and vsere.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Serv.& L.(Corp-C 296)238 : Marchauntis…hiden here vsure & colouren it bi sotil cautelis of þe fend þat fewe men may proue þis vsure.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)381 : To…lene xij d., to haue xiij…þat [is] vsure.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)8/29 : Vsure is whan a man lenyth for wynnyng…in entent to take ȝiftis or presentis because of þt lenyng…or makyng eny newe cheuesawnce…in entent to be payd of more þan he lenyth.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)127/24 : Þei [Jews] schul no more lende no siluer to no Cristen man, for…with her vsure þei encresed hemselue to grete ricchesse and mad many a Cristen man pore.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)17680 : Thys hand ycallyd ys ‘Vsure’, Vsyd…Bothe at marketys and at ffayres.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)118 : Vser and chevisaunce encressith the pouerte off hym that borowith.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.20 : The pope may nout dispensyn with usure, but with symonye he may.
b
- c1405 Chaucer CT.Pars.(Elsm)I.568 : Leon rorynge and Bere hongry been like to the crueel lordshipes…in vsures or in withdrawynge of the Almesse of poure folk.
- a1425 PPl.A(1) (UC 45)2.63 : Vsures [Trin-C: Al þe Ile of vsurie & auarice þe faste, Glotonye & grete oþes I gyue hem togidere].
- c1475 Chaucer CT.Pri.(Hrl 2251)B.1681 : Vsures [Heng: Ther was…a Iewerye Sustened by a lord of that contree ffor foul vsure and lucre of vileynye Hateful to Crist].
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)405 : An Vsure: vsura; okyr.
c
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)54.11 : Usure and trecherie ne failed nouȝt in his waies.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4384 : Upon the bench sittende on hih With Avarice, Usure I sih, Full clothed of his oghne suite.
- a1450(a1449) Lydg.RHorn (Hnt EL 26.A.13)18 : Marchauntes of lucre take noon hede, And Vsure lith fetred yn distresse.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)12 : Wickidnesse schal compasce here vp on her wall, and traueil in her middis, and vnritwisnes and vsere and gile an [read: are] not fallen from here stretis.
2.
Interest on money or goods given or received in a loan; also fig. and in fig. context; pl. payments of interest; at (to, up, upon) ~.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)652 : Byhouede þe ȝeolde my katel þat is myn owe And habbe ytake þe muneters suþþe þat ich come And þing þat myn is myd vsure of ham ynome.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.25.37 : Þy money þou shalt not ȝeue to hym to vsur.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.23.19 : Þou shalt not okere to þy broþer at vsur, monee, ne frutees.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Esd.5.7 : Eche on aske ȝee not vsures of ȝoure breþeren.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 19.23 : Whi hast thou not ȝouun my money to the boord and I comynge schulde haue receyued it sothli with vsuris?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4607 : Hir housebonde With fals brocage hath take usure Of love mor than his mesure.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)7.82 : Beggeres borwen euermo and her borghe is god almyȝti, To ȝelden hem þat ȝiueth hem and ȝet vsure more.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7026 : If a wight out of mesure Wolde lene his gold, and take vsure…he is so coueitous.
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)152/9 : Ȝe schal forȝeue it for Goddes loue, and þan schal God ȝelde it to ȝow in endeles blisse with large vsure.
- (1462-3) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 86.4 : The saide Robert hath xij li. of vsure.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.203 : Þou it be leful to borwyn for a good ende up [vr. upon] usure, ȝit it is nout leful to lendyn up usure.
3.
A loan.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.29.4 : Manye as fynding eymeden vsure [WB(2): borewyng] & ȝauen greef to þem þat helpeden þem.
4.
An act of oppression or exploitation.
Associated quotations
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)71.14 : He shal raunsoun her soules fram vsures and wickednes.