defray
UK[dɪˈfreɪ]US[dɪˈfreɪ]
v
to provide money to pay for a cost or expense.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
fray
de
from, away, off
fray
to rub, to wear down
Etymology
the word "defray" entered english in the late middle period from the old french 'defraier', meaning "to pay the costs of." this old french term was a compound of the prefix 'de-' (indicating removal or completion) and 'frai' (meaning "cost, expense"). the root 'frai' traces back to the latin 'frictum', the past participle of 'fricare' (to rub), metaphorically extending to the idea of wearing down or consuming resources, hence "expense." the literal morphemic sense of "taking away the cost" evolved into the modern abstract meaning of providing money to cover an expense.
Analysis
Structure: de + fray
de- (prefix of Latin origin meaning "from, away, off"); fray (from Old French 'frai', meaning "cost, expense", ultimately from Latin 'frictum', past participle of 'fricare', meaning "to rub, to wear down").
Examples
the company will defray all travel expenses for the conference.
a grant was awarded to defray the costs of the research project.
he offered to defray the cost of the repairs.