finance
- the management of revenues; the conduct or transaction of money matters generally, especially those affecting the public, as in the fields of banking and investment.
- finances, the monetary resources, as of a government, company, organization, or individual; revenue.
- to supply with money or capital; obtain money or credit for.
- to raise money or capital needed for financial operations.
Origin of finance
Examples from the Web for finances
Contemporary Examples
Their authors promise that your spirit will be improved, your ambition honed, and your finances maximized by their advice.
The Republican National Committee lost control over the party messaging and finances.
Rain tells me stripping at Show Palace has finally helped her gain control of her finances.
The budget is a mess and officials in Trenton are whispering about a state takeover of the city's finances.
The Leak of a Mysterious Video Could Change the Outcome of Newark’s Mayor’s RaceCharles Upton Sahm
May 5, 2014
Those never-ending worries about your finances or job could be zapping your energy.
Historical Examples
She might for a short time yet cut Linda's finances to the extreme limit.
Her Father's DaughterGene Stratton-Porter
That same day Morgan could not help broaching the subject of the finances.
Cleo The MagnificentLouis Zangwill
You stick close to science and the professor and let me attend to the finances.
The Depot MasterJoseph C. Lincoln
Hitherto we have been divided in our finances as no nation ever was before.
"It might depend a little upon the state of your finances," Bobby suggested.
The Dominant StrainAnna Chapin Ray
finance
- the system of money, credit, etc, esp with respect to government revenues and expenditures
- funds or the provision of funds
- (plural) funds; financial condition
- (tr) to provide or obtain funds, capital, or credit for
- (intr) to manage or secure financial resources
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for finances
n.
"pecuniary resources," 1730, modeled on the French cognate, from plural of finance (n.).
finance
v.
late 15c., "to ransom;" see finance (n.). Sense of "to manage money" is recorded from 1827; that of "to furnish with money" is from 1866. Related: Financed; financing.
finance
n.
c.1400, "an end, settlement, retribution," from Middle French finance "ending, settlement of a debt" (13c.), noun of action from finer "to end, settle a dispute or debt," from fin (see fine (n.)). Cf. Medieval Latin finis "a payment in settlement, fine or tax."
The notion is of "ending" (by satisfying) something that is due (cf. Greek telos "end;" plural tele "services due, dues exacted by the state, financial means"). The French senses gradually were brought into English: "ransom" (mid-15c.), "taxation" (late 15c.); the sense of "management of money" first recorded in English 1770.