A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Defeneration (dee-fen-uh-ray-shun) is a historical term that refers to the act of lending money at a usurious interest rate. The word comes from the Latin word "foenero," which means "to lend upon usury."

During the Middle Ages, defeneration was a common practice among moneylenders. They would charge exorbitant interest rates on loans, sometimes as high as 50% or more. This meant that borrowers would have to pay back much more than they borrowed, often leading to financial ruin.

For example, if someone borrowed 100 gold coins at a 50% interest rate, they would have to pay back 150 gold coins. If they couldn't pay back the loan, the moneylender could seize their property or even sell them into slavery.

Another example of defeneration can be seen in Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice." In the play, the character Shylock is a moneylender who charges a high interest rate on a loan to the merchant Antonio. When Antonio is unable to pay back the loan, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh as payment.

These examples illustrate how defeneration was a predatory practice that often exploited vulnerable borrowers. It was eventually outlawed in many countries, but it still exists in some forms today.