[ex.pense] n [ME, fr. AF or LL; AF, fr. LL expensa, fr. L, fem. of expensus, pp. of expendere] (14c) 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 ~" 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 ~"
4: a loss, detriment, or embarrassment that results from some action or gain: sacrifice "everyone had a good laugh at my ~"--usu. used in the phrase at the expense of "develop a boy's physique at the ~ of his intelligence --Bertrand Russell"
[2]expense vt ex.pensed ; ex.pens.ing (ca. 1909) 1: to charge with expenses
2. a: to charge to an expense account b: to write off as an expense