Middle English Dictionary Entry
ūsū̆rer(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ūsū̆rer(e n. Also userer(e, (error) usere; pl. usurer(e)s, etc. & (error) usures. |
| Etymology | OF (chiefly AF) usurer(e, vars. of usurier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
One who lends money at interest, a usurer.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)117 : An vsurer was ȝwilene þat hadde dettores tweyne.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)108.10 : Secheþ þe usurer alle hys substaunce.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.22.7 : He þat takeþ borewyng seruaunt is of þe vsurer.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.24.2 : Þe lord shal nakenen þe erþe…& destroȝen hys dwelleres…as þe vsureer, so he þat taketh borewing.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.83 : Ȝe forsaketh no mannes almesse, Of vsureres [vr. vsurers], of hores, of auarous chapmen.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.307 : An hore of hure ers-wynnynge may hardiloker tythe Þan an erraunt vsurer.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5691,5693 : All these ar Riche in abundaunce, That can thus haue suffisaunce Wel more than can an vsurere…For an vsurer…Shal neuere for richesse riche be, But euermore pore and indigent.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6507 : A Riche sike vsurere Wolde I visite…For I hope of his gold to gete.
- a1425 He þat wol herkyn (Hrl 2320)p.76 : Þe chyld þat ys born þat day, All hys lyf…He wurthe to an usere [?read: userere].
- a1425 Serm.in Med.St.17(2) (Add 37677)227 : Abouen alle marchauntes most cursed is þe usurere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)206 : Gowlare, or vserere [Win: vsurare]: Usurarius, fenerator.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)9/2 : Opin vsureris [vr. vsures] schold not be howslyd, ne beryȝed in cristyn beryelys.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)181/24 : Þe mony of þe vsuraris had devowrid…þe money of þer monasterie.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)208/14 : Þer was a fend wrothe, & in a tene he tuke þis vsurar saule & keste in his face.
- c1450 Form Excom.(3) (Dc 60)105/25 : We accorsen…al okereres and Vsereres þat by cause of wynnyng lene here catelle to here eme-cristen til a certen day for a more price þan hit myȝt haue be sold in tyme of lone.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)57a/b : Loke þat þou be no spouse brekere, ne no vserer, ne glotoun, ne wastour.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)433 : Laboreris shulden tiþe þer hire, & hooris or vsureris tiþe þer wynnyng.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.196 : For þe usurer sellith togedere þe þing þat he lendyth & þe vhs of þe þing.