Incurred

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈkɝd/

Definitions

1. To have become liable for something burdensome due to personal choices or behaviors
2. To have brought upon oneself an obligation or debt because of specific actions or decisions taken
3. To have faced a responsibility or cost that arises from one's own conduct or circumstances

Etymology: "Incurred" is the past tense and past participle of "incur," a verb that has meant "to run into" or "to bring upon oneself" since it first entered English. The verb came into Middle English as "incurren," borrowed from Anglo-Norman "encurir," a form of Middle French "encourir," which descended from Old French "encorre." Behind all of these lies Latin "incurrere," built from "in-" ("into, toward") and "currere" ("to run"), so the root sense is literally running into something. That physical meaning of colliding or running into a place gradually became figurative. Someone who "incurred" something ran straight into it, and the thing they ran into was often unpleasant: a debt, a penalty, anger, or a loss. Over time the sense narrowed toward consequences a person brings on themselves, which is why the word now usually describes costs that follow from one's own decisions or conduct.

Synonyms: sustained, accrued, gained, accumulated, brought on

Antonyms: avoided, prevented, eliminated, diminished, reduced