usance

American  

[yoo-zuhns] / ˈju zəns /

noun

1. Commerce. a length of time, exclusive of days of grace and varying in different places, allowed by custom or usage for the payment of foreign bills of exchange.

2. Economics. the income of benefits of every kind derived from the ownership of wealth.

3. Archaic.

   1. use.

   2. custom; habit.

4. Obsolete. usury.

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usance British  

/ ˈjuːzəns /

noun

1. commerce the period of time permitted by commercial usage for the redemption of foreign bills of exchange

2. rare unearned income

3. an obsolete word for usage usury use

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Etymology

Origin of usance

1350–1400; Middle English usaunce < Old French usance, probably < Medieval Latin ūsantia, derivative of Latin ūsant- (stem of ūsāns ), present participle of ūsāre to use; see -ance

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

usance

Usance between London and Hamburgh is two months, Venice is three months; and double usance, or two usance, is double that time.

From The Complete English Tradesman (1839 ed.) by Daniel Defoe

He vindictively, however, raised his customary "rate of usance," and swore in his own hardened heart that the needy borrowers of Delhi should recoup him fully before a year.

From A Fascinating Traitor An Anglo-Indian Story by Richard Savage

But it has been a tiresome business, with its investigation of titles and rights of usance, and court copyhold fines, and—Bother the business, it has taken up no end of time.

From The Vast Abyss The Story of Tom Blount, his Uncles and his Cousin Sam by George Manville Fenn

The usance of wealth and the service of laborers at the moment rendered constitute forms of income.

From Modern Economic Problems Economics Volume II by Frank Albert Fetter

I know him," the king said, "and have bought many rare articles of his handiwork, and more than once when I have needed it have had monies from him on usance.

From At Agincourt by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty