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 operations.
/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
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.