noun · neuterthird declension
faenus
faenus n (genitive faenoris)
Meaning
- neuterinterest (on capital); usury
- neutergain, profit, advantage
Tandem finita Pentateucho Mosi, velut grandi fenore liberati, ad Iesum filium Nave manum mittimus, [...]
The Pantateuch of Moses having come to an end, astough freed from a great advantage, we now turn our attention to Jesus (Joshua), son of Nave (Nun), …Preface to the Book of Joshua, Jerome of Stridon 4th-5th century CE - figurativelyneuterbanking, moneylending (faenus exerceō: practice banking)
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Fœnus · Usura
Fœnus (from φύω, fœtus,) denotes interest as the produce of capital, like τόκος; usura denotes what is paid by the debtor for the use of capital, like δάνος. (vi. 133.)
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | faenus | faenora fēnora, foenora |
| genitive | faenoris fēnoris, foenoris | faenorum fēnorum, foenorum |
| dative | faenorī fēnorī, foenorī | faenoribus fēnoribus, foenoribus |
| accusative | faenus | faenora fēnora, foenora |
| ablative | faenore fēnore, foenore | faenoribus fēnoribus, foenoribus |
| vocative | faenus | faenora fēnora, foenora |
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- fenus renovatum
- compound interest.
- perpetuum fenus (Att. 5. 21. 13)
- simple interests.
- fenus iniquissimum, grande, grave
- exorbitant rate of interest.
- pecuniam fenore occupare (Flacc. 21. 54)
- to put out money at interest.
- pecuniam alicui credere (sine fenore, usuris)
- to lend some one money (without interest).
- pecuniam fenori (fenore) alicui dare, accipere ab aliquo
- to lend, borrow money at interest.
- fenus ex triente Id. Quint. factum erat bessibus (Att. 4. 15. 7)
- the rate of interest has gone up from 4 per cent to 8 per cent.
faenus (less correctly fēn-, not foen-; cf. in the foll.), ŏris, n. fe-, feo; cf.: faenum, femina, etc.; therefore, lit., what is produced; hence.
I. Prop., the proceeds of capital lent out, interest (cf.: usura, versura): faenerator, sicuti M. Varro in libro tertio de Sermone Latino scripsit, a faenore est nominatus. Faenus autem dictum a fetu, et quasi a fetura quadam pecuniae parientis atque increscentis, Varr. ap. Gell. 16, 12, 7 sq., and ap. Non. 54, 5 sq.; cf.: faenus et faeneratores et lex de credita pecunia fenebris a fetu dicta, quod crediti nummi alios pariant, ut apud Graecos eadem res τόκος dicitur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 86 Müll.: cf.: faenum (so it should read, instead of faenus) appellatur naturalis terrae fetus;
ob quam causam et nummorum fetus faenus est vocatum et de ea re leges fenebres, id. p. 94: idem pecunias his faenori dabat, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 70, § 170: pecuniam faenore accipere, id. ib. 2, 3, 72, § 169: Scaptius centesimis, renovato in singulos annos faenore, contentus non fuit, id. Att. 6, 3, 5: faenus ex triente Idib. Quint. factum erat bessibus, id. ib. 4, 15, 7: iniquissimo faenore versuram facere, id. ib. 16, 15, 5: Graeci solvent tolerabili faenore, id. ib. 6, 1, 16: pecuniam occupare grandi faenore, id. Fl. 21, 51: dives positis in faenore nummis, Hor. S. 1, 2, 13; id. A. P. 421: faenore omni solutus, id. Epod. 2, 4.—II. Transf.
A. Capital lent on interest (very rare):
argenti faenus creditum, Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 101: faenus et impendium recusare, Cic. Att. 6, 1, 4.—2. Meton., that lent to the soil, i. e. the seed:
quam bona fide terra creditum faenus reddit! Plin. 2, 63, 63, § 155.—B. Gain, profit, advantage: terra, quae nunquam recusat imperium, nec unquam sine usura reddit quod accepit, sed alias minore, plerumque majore cum faenore, Cic. de Sen. 15, 51; cf.:
semina, quae magno faenore reddat ager, Tib. 2, 6, 22; and: cum quinquagesimo faenore messes reddit eximia fertilitas soli, Plin. 18, 17, 47, § 162: saepe venit magno faenore tardus amor, Prop. 1, 7, 26; cf.: at mihi, quod vivo detraxerit invida turba, Post obitum duplici faenore reddet Honos, id. 3 (4), 1, 22.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
faenus or fēnus (not foen-), oris, n
FEV-, the profit of capital, interest, usury : magnum: grande: pecunias eis faenori dabat: renovato in singulos annos faenore: faenus ex triente Id. Quinct. factum erat bessibus: positis in faenore nummis, H.: faenore omni solutus, H.: pecunias faenore auctitabant, Ta.: duas faenoris partes in agris conlocare, i. e. of the capital , Ta.: lato fenore exuberat, i. e. wide-spread investments , Ta. — Increase, gain, profit, advantage : reddere cum faenore: venit magno fenore amor, Pr.
Origins
From earlier fēnus. Possibly, from Proto-Italic *fēnos, from earlier *θēnos, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(i)-n-os, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(y)-, the same root of faenum, fēlīx, fēmina, fētus, thus lit. "that which is produced". Compare with the Ancient Greek use of τόκος (tókos).