usance

us·ance  (yzns)

n.

1. The length of time, established by custom and varying between countries, that is allowed for payment of a foreign bill of exchange.

2. Use.

3. Usage; custom.

4. Interest paid on borrowed money.

---

[Middle English, usage, from Old French, probably from Vulgar Latin *santia, from *sns, *sant-, present participle of *sre, frequentative of Latin t.]

---

usance [ˈjuːzəns]

n

1. (Business / Commerce) Commerce the period of time permitted by commercial usage for the redemption of foreign bills of exchange

2. (Economics, Accounting & Finance / Banking & Finance) Rare unearned income

3. an obsolete word for usage, usury, use

[from Old French, from Medieval Latin ūsantia, from ūsāre to use]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	usance - the period of time permitted by commercial usage for the payment of a bill of exchange (especially a foreign bill of exchange) commerce, commercialism, mercantilism - transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services) period, period of time, time period - an amount of time; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period"
	2.	usance - (economics) the utilization of economic goods to satisfy needs or in manufacturing; "the consumption of energy has increased steadily" economic consumption, use of goods and services, consumption, use economic science, economics, political economy - the branch of social science that deals with the production and distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management conspicuous consumption - buying expensive services and products in order to flaunt your wealth demand - the ability and desire to purchase goods and services; "the automobile reduced the demand for buggywhips"; "the demand exceeded the supply"
	3.	usance - accepted or habitual practice         custom, usage practice, pattern - a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern" Americanism - a custom that is peculiar to the United States or its citizens Anglicism, Britishism - a custom that is peculiar to England or its citizens consuetude - a custom or usage that has acquired the force of law couvade - a custom among some peoples whereby the husband of a pregnant wife is put to bed at the time of bearing the child Germanism - a custom that is peculiar to Germany or its citizens habit, use - (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; "owls have nocturnal habits"; "she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair"; "long use had hardened him to it" hijab - the custom in some Islamic societies of women dressing modestly outside the home; "she observes the hijab and does not wear tight clothing" survival - something that survives ritual, rite - any customary observance or practice