Forms: α. 1 lǽnere, 4 leenere, lenere, 4–5 lener, 5 leyner, 5–7 lenner. β. 5 lendare, 6– lender. [OE. lǽnere, agent-n. f. lǽnan LEND v.2 The mod. word is a new formation on LEND v.2 + -ER1.] One who lends; esp. one who makes a business of lending money at interest.
α. c. 1050. Suppl. Ælfric’s Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 189/21. Creditor, lænere.
1340. Ayenb., 35. Þer is anoþer lenere corteys þet leneþ wyþ-oute chapfare makiinde.
1483. Cath. Angl., 213/2. A Leyner (MS. A. Lenner), accomadator.
1487. Act 3 Hen. VII., c. 6 § 3. The same forfeyture to renne upon the Seller or lener therof.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), IV. xxi. 227. As yf … the lenner were in domage.
1633. Sc. Acts Chas. I. (1817), V. 40/1. Ordaines the lenners to pay the same yeirlie and termlie.
β. c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 296/1. Lendare, or he þat [lendythe] a thynge, fenerator.
1526. Tindale, Luke vii. 41. There was a certayne lender which had two detters.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. iii. 75. Neither a borrower, nor a lender be.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Of Usury (Arb.), 546. Let these Licensed Lenders be in Number Indefinite.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xliv. (1869), II. 658. The merit of generosity is on the side of the lender only.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), III. 103. To insist that the lender shall lend at his own risk.
