The spelling of the word "Defrayed" is quite interesting, because it doesn't match up perfectly with its pronunciation. In IPA transcription, it is written as /dɪˈfreɪd/, with the stress on the second syllable. However, the "e" in the middle of the word is silent, making the pronunciation sound more like "duh-FRAYD". Despite this seeming discrepancy, the spelling of the word remains consistent and is readily recognizable to those familiar with English orthography. Defrayed is the past tense of the verb defray, meaning to pay the cost or expenses of something.
To defray is a verb that refers to the act of paying or providing financial assistance for an expense, typically on behalf of someone else. The term is commonly used when an individual or organization covers the costs or shares the burden of certain expenses or bills that would have otherwise been the responsibility of another party.
When an individual defrays an expense, they essentially assume the financial obligations associated with it in order to lessen the financial burden on the original beneficiary. For example, a company might defray the cost of a business trip for its employees by covering their travel expenses, including transportation, meals, and accommodation.
Additionally, defraying can refer to the reimbursement of expenses incurred by an individual in certain circumstances. This typically occurs when one person agrees to cover the costs that another has already paid or needs to pay. For instance, if a friend lends money to another friend to pay for a medical emergency, the latter may defray the initial expenses by reimbursing the former.
In summary, to defray means to assume or contribute to the costs or expenses of another, thereby lessening their financial burden. It entails providing financial assistance, covering expenses, or reimbursing previously paid costs.
The word "defrayed" can be traced back to the Old French word "defroier", which means "to owe". It entered Middle English as "defrayen", with the sense of "to bear the expense of something". This Middle English term ultimately derived from the combination of the Old French prefix "de-", meaning "off" or "away", and the verb "frayer", meaning "to expend" or "to bear the cost". Overall, the etymology of "defrayed" suggests the idea of paying or covering the cost or expenses of something.