n. & v.
n. 1 the management of (esp. public) money. 2 monetary support for an enterprise. 3 (in pl.) the money resources of a State, company, or person.
v.tr. provide capital for (a person or enterprise). finance company (or house) a company concerned mainly with providing money for hire-purchase transactions.
[ ME f. OF f. finer settle a debt f. fin end: see FINE(2) ]