·vt The practice of taking interest.
II. Usury ·vt Interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money.
III. Usury ·vt A premium or increase paid, or stipulated to be paid, for a loan, as of money; interest.
The sum paid for the use of money, hence interest; not, as in the modern sense, exorbitant interest....
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(The word usury has come in modern English to mean excessive interest upon money loaned, either form...
William Smith's Bible Dictionary