I. ik-ˈspen(t)s noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin expensa, from Latin, feminine of expensus, past participle of expendere
Date: 14th century
1. archaic : the act or an instance of expending : expenditure
2.
a. : something expended to secure a benefit or bring about a result
b. : financial burden or outlay : cost
built the monument at their own expense
c. : an item of business outlay chargeable against revenue for a specific period
3. : a cause or occasion of expenditure
an estate is a great expense
4. : a loss, detriment, or embarrassment that results from some action or gain : sacrifice
everyone had a good laugh at my expense
— usually used in the phrase at the expense of
develop a boy's physique at the expense of his intelligence — Bertrand Russell
II. transitive verb
( ex·pensed ; ex·pens·ing )
Date: circa 1909
1. : to charge with expenses
2.
a. : to charge to an expense account
b. : to write off as an expense