usurier

usurer

noun ew-zyoo-RYEH Rare

Origin: Medieval Latin 'usurarius'

Also means

loan shark

Usage Note

Usurier refers to someone who lends money at excessively high interest; the feminine is usurière. The related noun l'usure means both usury and wear-and-tear, a false-friend trap for English speakers who know 'usury'. The phrase pratiquer l'usure means to charge exorbitant rates.

Examples

"L'usurier réclamait des intérêts exorbitants."

Natural Translation

The usurer was demanding exorbitant interest.

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