incur
/ɪnˈkɝ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.30 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To bring upon oneself or expose oneself to, especially something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to become liable or subject to.
Transitive verb
verb
To bring upon oneself or expose oneself to, especially something inconvenient, harmful, or onerous; to become liable or subject to.
Transitive verb
Example Sentences
- "Near-synonym: contract (debts, etc.)"
- "Cruelty incurs calamity."
- "I've incurred scorn and odium for my actions."
- "VVherefore I beſeech every one vvhom it may concerne, to put on a ſerious diſplicence, upon theſe occaſions, that they may not incurre this menace of Chriſt, VVoe be unto you that laugh novv, but rather entitle themſelves to this promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, They ſhall laugh in the latter day."
- "[T]he master in his wrath may easily incur worse evil himself than he inflicts—[...]"
- "And here it is to be noted that hatred is incurred as well on account of good actions as of bad;"
Etymology
From Middle English incurren, from Anglo-Norman encurir, Middle French encourir, from Old French encorre, from Latin incurrere.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *ḱers-, incurren, encurir, encourir, encorre, incurrere
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɪnˈkɝ/
- British English: /ɪnˈkɜː/