defray

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
13
Words With Friends
12
Letters
6
Pronunciation
/dɪˈfɹeɪ/
See all 2 pronunciations
/dɪˈfɹeɪ/ · /dɪˈfɹæɪ/

Definition of defray

3 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

verb

  1. (transitive)To pay or discharge (a debt, expense etc.); to meet (the cost of something).
    “The expenses of the war, while in progress, were defrayed by executing rich men and confiscating their property.”
    “Investors, meanwhile, got back a fraction of their money. Some say Mr Meinl’s €100m bail, paid by a source in Liechtenstein, should be used to defray their losses.”
    “In order to help defray the substantial costs involved, they then raised revenue through taking advertisements.”
    “With his legal maneuverings, Trump is showing that he also understands the implications of this election — one that could give him substantial powers as president to defray or dismiss many of the legal threats that he’s facing and to behave in office without future accountability.”
See all 3 definitions

verb

  1. (transitive)To pay or discharge (a debt, expense etc.); to meet (the cost of something).
    “The expenses of the war, while in progress, were defrayed by executing rich men and confiscating their property.”
    “Investors, meanwhile, got back a fraction of their money. Some say Mr Meinl’s €100m bail, paid by a source in Liechtenstein, should be used to defray their losses.”
    “In order to help defray the substantial costs involved, they then raised revenue through taking advertisements.”
    “With his legal maneuverings, Trump is showing that he also understands the implications of this election — one that could give him substantial powers as president to defray or dismiss many of the legal threats that he’s facing and to behave in office without future accountability.”
  2. (archaic, transitive)To pay for (something).
  3. (obsolete, transitive)To spend (money).

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle French desfrayer, French défrayer, from dé- + Old French fraier (“to spend”).

Anagrams of defray

2 plays · some not in Scrabble

Best play frayed 13 points

Hooks

1 extension · 1 back

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