usance

[ yoo-zuh ns ]
/ ˈyu zəns /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR usance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.
Economics. the income of benefits of every kind derived from the ownership of wealth.
Archaic.
  1. use.
  2. custom; habit.
Obsolete. usury.

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

Words nearby usance

usaf, usafi, usage, usageaster, usan, usance, usar, usb, usb drive, usb key, usb port

Words related to usance

fashion, observance, habit, manner, shot, use, way, routine, usage, swim, form, hang-up, practice, consuetude, habitude, wont, characteristic, rule, grind, trick

Example sentences from the Web for usance

British Dictionary definitions for usance

usance
/ (ˈjuːzəns) /

noun

commerce the period of time permitted by commercial usage for the redemption of foreign bills of exchange
rare unearned income
an obsolete word for usage, usury, use

Word Origin for usance

C14: from Old French, from Medieval Latin ūsantia, from ūsāre to use