USURE
U"sure, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Usury. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Foul usure and lucre of villainy. Chaucer.
USURER
U"su*rer, n. Etym: [F. usurier, LL. usurarius. See Usury, and cf.
Usurarious.]
1. One who lends money and takes interest for it; a money lender. [Obs.] If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. Ex. xxii. 25.
2. One who lends money at a rate of interest beyond that established by law; one who exacts an exorbitant rate of interest for the use of money. He was wont to call me usurer. Shak.
USURIOUS
U*su"ri*ous, a. Etym: [From Usury.]
1. Practicing usury; taking illegal or exorbitant interest for the use of money; as, a usurious person.
2. Partaking of usury; containing or involving usury; as, a usurious
contract.
— U*su"ri*ous*ly, adv.
— U*su"ri*ous*ness, n.
USURP U*surp", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Usurped; p. pr. & vb. n. Usurping.] Etym: [L. usurpare, usurpatum, to make use of, enjoy, get possession of, usurp; the first part of usurpare is akin to usus use (see Use, n.): cf. F. usurper.]
Defn: To seize, and hold in possession, by force, or without right; as, to usurp a throne; to usurp the prerogatives of the crown; to usurp power; to usurp the right of a patron is to oust or dispossess him. Alack, thou dost usurp authority. Shak. Another revolution, to get rid of this illegitimate and usurped government, would of course be perfectly justifiable. Burke.