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Webster 1913 Edition
Defray
De-fray′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Defrayed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defraying
.] [F.
défrayer
; pref. dé-
(L. de
or dis-
) + frais
expense, fr. LL. fredum
, fridum
, expense, fine by which an offender obtained peace from his sovereign, or more likely, atoned for an offense against the public peace, fr. OHG. fridu
peace, G. friede
. See Affray
.] 1.
To pay or discharge; to serve in payment of; to provide for, as a charge, debt, expenses, costs, etc.
For the discharge of his expenses, and
defraying
his cost, he allowed him . . . four times as much. Usher.
2.
To avert or appease, as by paying off; to satisfy;
as, to
. defray
wrath[Obs.]
Spenser.
Webster 1828 Edition
Defray
DEFRAY
, v.t.1.
To pay; to discharge, as cost or expense; to bear, as charge, cost or expense. It is followed chiefly by expense, charge or cost. The acquisitions of war seldom defray the expenses. The profits of a voyage will not always defray the charges, or even the cost of the first outfits.2.
To satisfy; as, to defray anger.3.
To fill; as, to defray a bottle.