anatocism

noun

anat·​o·​cism

əˈnatəˌsizəm

plural -s

: compound interest : the taking of compound interest

Word History

Etymology

Latin anatocismus, from Greek anatokismos, from ana- + tokismos usury, from tokizein to lend on interest (from tokos interest, offspring, from tiktein to beget) + -ismos -ism

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

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