Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Cost
1.
A rib; a side; a region or coast.
[Obs.]
Piers Plowman.
Betwixt the
costs
of a ship. B. Jonson.
Cost
(kŏst; 115)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Cost
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Costing
.] 1.
To require to be given, expended, or laid out therefor, as in barter, purchase, acquisition, etc.; to cause the cost, expenditure, relinquishment, or loss of;
as, the ticket
. cost
a dollar; the effort cost
his lifeA diamond gone,
cost
me two thousand ducats. Shakespeare
Though it
cost
me ten nights’ watchings. Shakespeare
2.
To require to be borne or suffered; to cause.
To do him wanton rites, which
cost
them woe. Milton.
To cost dear
, to require or occasion a large outlay of money, or much labor, self-denial, suffering, etc.
1.
The amount paid, charged, or engaged to be paid, for anything bought or taken in barter; charge; expense; hence, whatever, as labor, self-denial, suffering, etc., is requisite to secure benefit.
One day shall crown the alliance on 't so please you,
Here at my house, and at my proper
Here at my house, and at my proper
cost
. Shakespeare
At less
cost
of life than is often expended in a skirmish, [Charles V.] saved Europe from invasion. Prescott.
2.
Loss of any kind; detriment; pain; suffering.
I know thy trains,
Though dearly to my
Though dearly to my
cost
, thy gins and toils. Milton.
3.
pl.
(Law)
Expenses incurred in litigation.
☞ Costs in actions or suits are either between attorney and client, being what are payable in every case to the attorney or counsel by his client whether he ultimately succeed or not, or between party and party, being those which the law gives, or the court in its discretion decrees, to the prevailing, against the losing, party.
Bill of costs
. See under
– Bill
. Cost free
, without outlay or expense.
“Her duties being to talk French, and her privileges to live cost free and to gather scraps of knowledge.” Thackeray.
Webster 1828 Edition
Cost
COST
,Noun.
1.
The price, value or equivalent of a thing purchased; the amount in value paid, charge or engaged to be paid for any thing bought or taken in barter. The word is equally applicable to the price in money or commodities; as the cost of a suit of clothes; the cost of a house or farm.2.
Expense; amount in value expended or to be expended; charge; that which is given or to be given for another thing.I will not offer burnt offerings without cost. 1 Chronicles 21.
Have we eaten at all at the kings cost? 2 Samuel 19.
The cost of maintaining armies is immense and often ruinous.
3.
In law, the sum fixed by law or allowed by the court for charges of a suit awarded against the party losing, in favor of the party prevailing, &c. The jury find that the plaintiff recover of the defendant ten dollars with costs of suit or with his cost.4.
Loss or expense of any kind; detriment; pain; suffering. The vicious man indulges his propensities at a great cost.5.
Sumptuousness; great expense.COST
,Verb.
T.
1.
To require to be given or expend in barter or purchase; to be bought for; as, this book cost a dollar; the army and navy cost four millions a year.2.
To require to be laid out, given, bestowed or employed; as, Johnsons dictionary_webster1828 cost him seven years labor.3.
To require to be borne or suffered. Our sins cost us many pains. A sense of ingratitude to his maker costs the penitent sinner many pangs and sorrows.