finance

[fi-nans, fahy-nans] /fɪˈnæns, ˈfaɪ næns/
noun
1.
the management of revenues; the conduct or transaction of money matters generally, especially those affecting the public, as in the fields of banking and investment.
2.
finances, the monetary resources, as of a government, company, organization, or individual; revenue.
verb (used with object), financed, financing.
3.
to supply with money or capital; obtain money or credit for.
verb (used without object), financed, financing.
4.
to raise money or capital needed for financial operations.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English finaunce < Anglo-French, Middle French finance, equivalent to fin(er) to end, settle, pay (see fine2) + -ance -ance
Related forms
financeable, adjective
prefinance, verb (used with object), prefinanced, prefinancing.
self-finance, verb (used with object), self-financed, self-financing.
superfinance, noun, verb, superfinanced, superfinancing.
underfinance, verb (used with object), underfinanced, underfinancing.
unfinanced, adjective
well-financed, adjective
Can be confused
accounting, bookkeeping, finance.
Examples from the web for finance
  • It would have been a fairly simple matter for someone to finance a loan for a locker facility.
  • She'll be in on all the high-level groups of finance, business and government.
  • My previous degrees are in a non business or finance related area.
  • They could make enough money in a couple of weeks to finance an expedition that lasted months.
  • Don't use my tax money to finance the investigation into this fantasy.
  • The economic crisis is altering the landscape of global finance.
  • For the third year running, business and finance dominated much of the news.
  • Many economists are turning to ideas in physics to describe the complexities of business, finance and trade.
  • Our political system pours money into war and tax breaks while relying on deficit finance.
  • Information about finance and capital for small businesses.
British Dictionary definitions for finance

finance

/fɪˈnæns; ˈfaɪnæns/
noun
1.
the system of money, credit, etc, esp with respect to government revenues and expenditures
2.
funds or the provision of funds
3.
(pl) funds; financial condition
verb
4.
(transitive) to provide or obtain funds, capital, or credit for
5.
(intransitive) to manage or secure financial resources
Word Origin
C14: from Old French, from finer to end, settle by payment
Word Origin and History for finance
n.

c.1400, "an end, settlement, retribution," from Middle French finance "ending, settlement of a debt" (13c.), noun of action from finer "to end, settle a dispute or debt," from fin (see fine (n.)). Cf. Medieval Latin finis "a payment in settlement, fine or tax."

The notion is of "ending" (by satisfying) something that is due (cf. Greek telos "end;" plural tele "services due, dues exacted by the state, financial means"). The French senses gradually were brought into English: "ransom" (mid-15c.), "taxation" (late 15c.); the sense of "management of money" first recorded in English 1770.

v.

late 15c., "to ransom;" see finance (n.). Sense of "to manage money" is recorded from 1827; that of "to furnish with money" is from 1866. Related: Financed; financing.