[usu.ry] n, pl -ries [ME, fr. ML usuria, alter. of L usura, fr. usus, pp. of uti to use] (14c) 1 archaic: interest
2: the lending of money with an interest charge for its use; esp: the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates
3: an unconscionable or exorbitant rate or amount of interest; specif: interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money