incur, v.
(ɪnˈkɜː(r))
Also 5–7 incur(r(e, 7 -cure, 6–7 encurr(e.
[ad. L. incurr-ĕre to run (into, towards, against), f. in- (in-2) + currĕre to run: cf. OF. encorre, -courre, mod.F. encourir.]
I. intr.
† 1. To run, flow, fall, or come to or into; to fall (within a period of time, the scope of an argument, etc.). Obs.
| 1536 Art. Insurgents in Froude Hist. Eng. III. 157 note, We humbly beseech..that the Lady Mary may be made legitimate, and the former statute therein annulled, for the danger if the title might incur to the crown of Scotland. 1619 Ussher Lett. (1686) 69 The beginning of Dhilkarnain..certainly doth incurr in annum periodi Julianae 4402. c 1620 A. Hume Brit. Tongue xi. 33 Becaus sum nounes incurre into adverbes, let us alsoe noat their differences. 1625 Bacon Ess., Envy (Arb.) 513 For it..commeth oftner into their remembrance, and incurreth likewise more into the note of others. 1652 Bp. Hall Invis. World i. §7 These graces do incur into each other, and are not possible to be severed. 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. 146 Kircherus in the first Book of his Egyptian Antiquities..supposeth the first 15 Dynasties to have incurred before the Flood. |
† b. To come in so as to meet the eye, the observation, etc.; to occur. Obs.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §98 They are Inuisible, and incurre not to the Eie. 1681 Evelyn Corr. 27 Sept. in Mem. (1819) II. 215 If any thing incurr to you of Curious..you will greately oblige that Assembly of Virtuosi in communicating any productions of the places you trauell thro'. 1692 South 12 Serm. (1697) I. 317 According to the different Quality of External Objects that incurr into the Senses. |
c. To devolve or accrue; to supervene.
| 1786 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) I. 546 The principal, with the interest incurring before and after the war. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) III. 17 No lapse incurs by the non-presentation of the patron, within six months. |
† 2. To run into (danger, etc.); to render oneself liable to (damage). Obs.
| 1530–1 Act 22 Hen. VIII, c. 15 Other spyrituall persones..haue fallen and incurred into dyuers daungers of his lawes. 1533 Sir W. Fitzwilliam in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 28 All suche pore people as shulde receyve her said Maundy shulde encurre to farre in daungier of..Lawes, and of High Treason. 1620 Shelton Quix. III. xiii. 82 God deliver me..out of this dangerous Profession of being a Squire, into which I have this second time, incurr'd. |
II. trans.
† 3. To run into; to move or pass into, on, or against; to come upon, meet with. Obs.
| 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke Ded., Whose beaten footepath, your..Maiestyes..persone doth so incurre. a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1687) I. viii. 92 He that is no longer affected with a benefit than it incurrs the sense, and suffers not it self to be disregarded. a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 205 Those imported from the East, Where first they were incurr'd, are held the best. |
4. To run or fall into (some consequence, usually undesirable or injurious); to become through one's own action liable or subject to; to bring upon oneself.
| 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 699 And so this Robert incurrit greit skayth, And frustrat war than of tha kinrikis bayth. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 54, I should haue..incurred the suspicion of fraud. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 67 His Trespasse..is not almost a fault T' encurre a priuate checke. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 15 They, not obeying, Incurr'd, what could they less, the penaltie. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 155 ¶1 No weakness of the human mind has more frequently incurred animadversion. 1795 Burke Th. Scarcity Wks. 1842 II. 253 All the expence is incurred gratis. 1812 H. & J. Smith Rej. Addr. x. (1873) 91 Disseminating falsehood without incurring favour. 1838 Lytton Calderon ii. 65, I owe you the greatest debt one man can incur to another. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. Ind. I. 581 He incurred the displeasure of his sovereign. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. I. v. 366 A fine..was incurred in ordinary cases. 1885 J. Martineau Types Eth. Th. II. 48 Feelings which incur..our disgust or complacency. |
† b. Obsolete constructions. Obs.
| c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 141 The tenthe part fro God yif thou withdrawe, Thou muste incurre..To been accursyd by rigour of the lawe. 1726 Amherst Terræ Fil. Pref. 20 He has attempted this change, without incurring upon himself that obloquy and clamour, which usually attend such innovations. |
† 5. To cause to be incurred; to bring on or upon (some one); to entail. Obs.
| 1627 Hakewill Apol. iv. xii. §5 (1630) 472 The Apostles warinesse in not naming it expressely, lest thereby he should incurre hatred against the Christian Professours and Religion. 1747 Adv. Kidnapped Orphan 201 The pusillanimous behaviour of the lieutenant..incurred on him the contempt of the whole corps. 1784 Laura & Augustus III. 28 This sickness has necessarily incurred expences, which we are unable to bear. |
Hence incurred (ɪnˈkɜːd) ppl. a.; incurring (ɪnˈkɜːrɪŋ) vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1599 Minsheu Sp. Dict., Incurrimiento, running into, falling into, incurring. 1644 Milton Judgm. Bucer xl, Not death but the incurring of notorious infamy. 1836 W. Irving Astoria III. 181 The interior trade, which they pronounced unequal to the expenses incurred. a 1890 J. Brown Serm. (1892) 120 The recklessly incurred..debt. |