Main Entry: ¹ex·pense

Pronunciation: \ik-ˈspen(t)s\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin expensa, from Latin, feminine of expensus, past participle of expendere

Date: 14th century

1 archaic : the act or an instance of expending : expenditure
2 a : something expended to secure a benefit or bring about a result b : financial burden or outlay : cost <built the monument at their own expense> c : an item of business outlay chargeable against revenue for a specific period
3 : a cause or occasion of expenditure <an estate is a great expense>
4 : a loss, detriment, or embarrassment that results from some action or gain : sacrifice <everyone had a good laugh at my expense> —usually used in the phrase at the expense of <develop a boy's physique at the expense of his intelligence — Bertrand Russell>