I. fə̇ˈnan(t)s, ˈfīˌn-, -naa(ə)n- also fīˈn- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English finaunce ending, settlement, payment, ransom, from Middle French finance, from finer to end, pay + -ance — more at fine
1. finances plural : the pecuniary affairs or resources of a state, company, or individual
school had to close for lack of finances
his finances were in bad shape
company with ample finances
2. : the obtaining of funds or capital : financing
productive business expansion for which finance would otherwise be unavailable — F.D.Roosevelt
3. : the system that includes the circulation of money, the granting of credit, the making of investments, and the provision of banking facilities
people employed in … trade, finance , personal services, and government — P.H.Landis
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English finauncen, from finaunce, n.
transitive verb
1. : to raise or provide funds or capital for
finance a war
finance a new home
encouraged and financed a career
finance a new venture
2. : to provide with necessary funds in order to achieve a desired end
finance a son through school
financeed the government through this emergency
3. : to sell on credit : to supply on credit
the early motor-vehicle producers were not in a position to finance … the automobile distributors and dealers who wished to obtain cars for resale to consumers — C.W.Phelps
your store bill is too high, we just can't finance you any longer
intransitive verb
: to secure needed funds or capital
governments and individuals finance through borrowing
• fin·ance·able adjective