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moneylender
noun
mon·ey·lend·er
ˈmə-nē-ˌlen-dər
: one whose business is lending money
specifically
: pawnbroker
Examples of moneylender in a Sentence
He was unable to repay his debts to the moneylender.
Recent Examples on the Web
As European moneylenders ascended in prominence, Ottoman practices eventually fell into line.
—Harris Irfan, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2015
After spotlight appearances on several television shows, Romanus found success as Michael, a moneylender whom Robert de Niro’s character publicly ridicules in Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 31 Dec. 2023
Other actors impress in the smaller roles: David Almeida as a fussy theater investor, Rahseem Ford as the double entendre-spouting Puritan leader, and Bobbie Bell as a moneylender who gives a gleeful monologue on the delights of the theater.
—Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2023
Dante sent moneylenders to the seventh circle of hell.
—Matthew Desmond, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2023
But then Bassanio’s friend Lorenzo elopes with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica, and the moneylender, after a lifetime of insults, breaks bad.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2022
Unable to pay the 5% daily interest on her last loan of 20,000 rupees ($245) in 2019, she was forced to give away her gold bangles – a family heirloom – to stop the moneylender from harassing her.
—Annie Banerji, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2022
Unfortunately for Licoricia, her 1244 stint in the Tower wouldn’t be her last: In 1258, a neighbor accused the moneylender of stealing a gold ring intended for the king.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022
When Licoricia of Winchester, an English moneylender who counted among her clients Henry III and members of his court, was found murdered in her home in 1277, news of her death circulated widely, even reaching Jewish communities in Germany.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2022
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Word History
First Known Use
1598, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near moneylender
Cite this Entry
“Moneylender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moneylender. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
moneylender
noun
mon·ey·lend·er
ˈmən-ē-ˌlen-dər
: one whose business is lending money
especially
: pawnbroker
More from Merriam-Webster on moneylender
Nglish: Translation of moneylender for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of moneylender for Arabic Speakers
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