Forms: α. 3–7 vsurer, 4–5 -ere, 5, Sc. 6 -ar; 5 usurere, 6– usurer. β. 4–6 vserer, 5 -ere, 6–7 userer (6 uss-). [a. AF. usurer, userer, = OF. usureor, ad. med.L. ūsūrārius USURARY sb. Cf. USURIER, and Sp. usurero, Pg. usurario, It. usurajo.] One who practises usury or lends money at interest; a money-lender, esp. in later use one who charges an excessive rate of interest.
α. c. 1290. St. Magdalena, 117, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 465. An vsurer was ȝwilene, þat hadde dettores tweyne.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 1611. Whan any vsurere was dede, Þe chercheȝerde þey hymn forbede.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 275. If prestes weren parfyt þei wolde … nouȝte [take] her mete of vsureres.
c. 1410. Lantern of Light, 132. In þis chirche ben vsureris, okureris, iourours.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1906), 53. Other … ben bawdes and theues, usureres, bariters.
1551. T. Wilson, Logike, G ij. No Christian is an vsurer.
1584. Lodge, Alarum agst. Usurers, B iij. The Broker in this matter, getteth … thousand thankes of this diuellish Vsurer.
1606. Dekker, Sev. Sins, VI. (Arb.), 39. These are Vsurers: who for a little money … bring yong Nouices into a fooles Paradice till they haue sealed the Morgage of their landes.
1677. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), II. 395. Mr Deane, the old usurer.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., II. 270. As all-rapacious usurers conceal Their doomsday-book from all-consuming heirs.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xvii. II. 70. The usurer, who derived from the interest of money a silent and ignominious profit.
1839. Dickens, Nickleby, i. This promising lad commenced usurer on a limited scale at school.
1874. Ruskin, Fors Clav., xliv. 129. I know myself to be an usurer as long as I take interest on any money.
β. 1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 2453. Cauuarsyns and vserers, Þys are, Lucyfer, þy peres.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 206/2. Gowlare, or vserere, usurarius.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxiii. 434. The riche vserer that deliteth in his richesse.
1581. Southampton Crt. Leet Rec. (1900), II. 221. Edwardes … is an extreme usserer.
1588. Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 32. He beareth … to vserer Haruies good chear and money bags.
1616. R. Cocks, Diary (Hakl. Soc.), I. 198. This man is a greate userer; and the King of Firando oweth hym much money.
1699. in E. W. Dunbar, Soc. Life Moray (1865), 31. Under the certificating of being pursued as Occurrers or Userers.
b. attrib. and Comb., as usurer class, -like.
1729. Boyer, Dict. Royal, I. Usurairement, usurer-like.
1892. Pall Mall G., 23 April, 7/1. The usurer-ridden peasantry and overworked operatives.
1902. Fabian News, May, 20/1. The landlord and usurer classes of India.
