shylock

/'ʃailɔk/

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The word "Shylock" is a noun that comes from a character in William Shakespeare's play called "The Merchant of Venice." In the play, Shylock is a Jewish moneylender who lends money but charges very high interest rates. Because of this character, the term "Shylock" has come to mean someone who lends money at very high rates, often seen as greedy or merciless.

Explanation:

• Definition: A "Shylock" refers to a person who is a merciless usurer, meaning they lend money at excessive interest rates.

Usage Instructions:

• When to use: You can use "Shylock" when talking about someone who loans money unfairly or takes advantage of others financially.
• Context: It is often used in a negative context, describing someone who is seen as exploitative or greedy.

Example:

• "He was labeled a Shylock because he charged his clients far more than what was fair for his loans."

Advanced Usage:

• In literature or discussions about ethics in finance, "Shylock" might be used to refer to any lender who is perceived as taking advantage of borrowers.

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of the word "Shylock," but it can be used in different forms, such as "Shylockian" (adjective) to describe a behavior or characteristic reminiscent of Shylock.

Different Meaning:

• Aside from its primary meaning related to lending, "Shylock" can also refer to stereotypes and themes related to moneylending in literature and discussions about financial ethics.

Synonyms:

• Usurer: Someone who lends money at interest, especially at unreasonably high rates.
• Loan shark: A person who lends money at extremely high interest rates, often illegally.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs associated with "Shylock," but you might hear phrases like "loan sharking" which refers to the practice of lending money at very high-interest rates, similar to what a "Shylock" would do.

Academic

Noun

1. a merciless usurer in a play by Shakespeare
2. someone who lends money at excessive rates of interest

Synonyms

• Shylock
• usurer
• loan shark
• moneylender