Latin for Lawyers

USURY

tion. To extend one’s office or authority by assuming a function or duty assigned or delegated to someone else. USURY [L. usura (from utor, uti / to use) / use; enjoyment; also, interest paid for money borrowed] A charge upon the use or loan of money which is higher than permitted by law or than recognized by general practice in a particular area. Any premium, discount, profit, bonus or payment to a lender in excess of the principal itself which is greater in amount than the legally permitted return upon principal. Every state has enacted usury laws which define the legal rate of interest which may be charged on loans. Congress in 18 USCA § 892 made it a fed eral crime to exact an “extortionate extension of credit.” The statute defined as illegal any credit transaction the repayment of which would be unenforce able in the defendant’s state and which imposes interest at an effective rate greater than 45%. UTERINE [L. uterus / the womb, belly; the uterus] Children born of the same mother but of different fathers. Half-brothers and half-sisters. UTILITY [L. utor , uti / to use ( utlilis / useful, beneficial)] The condition of being fit for some purpose or end. Any object designed to be employed in some activity. Any agency or business organized to provide a public service such as light, power, water or access to communications, whether public or for profit. In patent law, a patent applicant must show that his invention has utility , i.e., that it performs some function beneficial to soci ety. UXOR, UXORIAL [L. uxor / wife, spouse] Concering or relating to a wife. UXORICIDE [L. uxor / wife + caedo , caedere / to cut, cut down; to kill] The killing of a wife by her husband. UXOR SEQUITUR DOMICILIUM VIRI [L. uxor / wife + sequor , sequi / to follow + domicilium / place of residence + vir / man, male, husband] The (domicile of) wife follows the domicile of her husband.

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