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Mont de Piété

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A pawn depôt. These depôts, calledmonti di pietà” (charity loans), were first instituted under Leo X.; at Rome, by charitable persons who wished to rescue the poor and needy from usurious money-lenders. They advanced small sums of money on the security of pledges, at a rate of interest barely sufficient to cover the working expenses of the institution. Both the name and system were introduced into France and Spain. The model Loan Fund of Ireland is formed on the same system. Public granaries for the sale of corn are called in Italian Monti frumentarii. “Monte” means a public or State loan; hence also a “bank.”

 

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Monophagous
Monophysites
Monothelism
Monroe Doctrine
Monsieur
Monsieur de Paris
Monsoon
Monster (The)
Monsters
Mont
Mont de Piété
Mont St. Michel
Montagnards [the mountain party]
Montague
Montanists
Montanto
Monteer Cap
Monteith
Montem
Montero-cap (A)
Montesinos (The Cave of)

See Also:

Mont de Piété