finance

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   obtain or provide money for

   Can we finance the addition to our home?

2. 2
   noun

   The management of money and other assets.

   And statesmen as well ought to know these things; for a state is often as much in want of money and of such devices for obtaining it as a household, or even more so; hence some public men devote themselves entirely to finance.

3. 3
   noun

   Monetary resources, especially those of a public entity or a company.

   Who's really in charge of a democracy's finances?

4. 4
   noun

   The provision of a loan, payment instalment terms, or similar arrangement, to enable a customer to purchase an item without paying the full amount straight away.

   Finance on all our new cars is provided by ABC Loans Ltd.

5. 5
   verb

   To manage financially; be financier for; provide or obtain funding for a transaction or undertaking.

   His parents financed his college education.

6. 6
   noun

   the commercial activity of providing funds and capital

7. 7
   noun

   the management of money and credit and banking and investments

8. 8
   noun

   the branch of economics that studies the management of money and other assets

Etymology

From Middle English finaunce, from Anglo-Norman, Middle French finance, from finer (“to pay ransom”) (whence also English fine (“to pay a penalty”)), from fin (“end”), from Latin fīnis. Original English sense that appeared c. 1400 was “ending”. The sense of “ending or satisfying a debt” originated from French influence: in the sense of “ransom” appeared in the mid 15th century, in the sense of “taxation” appeared in the late 15th century. In the sense of “manage money” first recorded c. 1770.