loan

Definition

An act or instance of lending, an act or instance of granting something for temporary use.

Etymology

From Middle English lone, lane, from Old Norse lán, from Proto-Germanic *laihną, from Proto-Indo-European *leykʷ- (“to leave (over)”). Cognate with Icelandic lán, Swedish lån, Danish lån, German Lehen (“fief”), Dutch leen (“fief”), West Frisian lien, North Frisian leen (“fief; loan; office”), Scots lane, lain, len, Old English lǣn. More at lend.

Example Sentences

• "Because of the loan that John made to me, I was able to pay my tuition for the upcoming semester."
• "All loans from the library, whether books or audio material, must be returned within two weeks."
• "He got a loan of five thousand pounds."