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usura

Etymology and origin of the Latin word usura

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (ūtor)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [uːˈsuː.ra][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [uˈs̬uː.ra][1]

Forms

ūsūra f (genitive ūsūrae); first declension[1] Plautus has the spelling ussūra.[2]

Etymology

It is from ūtor “to use” with the suffix -ūra.[2][1] Isidore says it is named after the use of money lent.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of the use of a thing.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant the use or enjoyment of something, as in Plautus.[2] From Varro it meant the sum paid for the use of money, interest, especially in the plural, perhaps for the monthly payments.[2] Döderlein explains that fēnus is interest as the yield of capital, ūsūra what the debtor pays for its use.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant usury, use, interest.[6] British Medieval Latin used it for interest, and Alcuin's letter of 786 forbids usury.[7] It was borrowed into Italian and Spanish usura and French usure.[1] Medieval Latin ūsūria gave English usury about 1300 through Anglo-French.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of use.[2][4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of interest.[2][4]
  • 786 – A letter of Alcuin's circle forbids usury.[7]
  • c. 1300 – English usury is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Use, enjoyment.[2]
  2. Interest on money; usury.[2][6]

Word family

  • ūsūrārius

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from fēnus.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Usura.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/usura. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·