To accrue is spelled /əˈkruː/. The IPA phonetic transcription shows that the word has two syllables with the primary stress on the second syllable. The initial sound is a schwa /ə/ followed by a voiceless velar fricative /k/. The second syllable starts with a voiced uvular fricative /ʁ/ followed by a long vowel sound /u:/, which is pronounced as in the word "moon". The final sound is a voiceless alveolar approximant /r/. The spelling of the word reflects its origin from the Old French word "acreue".
To accrue means to gradually accumulate or build up over time. It refers to the process of gaining or accumulating something, such as money, benefits, interest, or rights, through regular and continuous addition or growth. The concept of accrual is often associated with financial or legal contexts.
In finance, accruing relates to the gradual increase of interest, income, or expenses on an investment or a debt. For example, interest on a savings account will accrue over time, with the amount increasing as the account balance grows and additional interest is added periodically.
In the legal realm, accrual refers to the acquisition of rights or benefits that occur due to the passage of time or continuous employment. For instance, an employee may accrue vacation days or sick leave over the course of their employment, with the accumulated time becoming available for future use.
Additionally, accrue can also be used to describe the gradual accumulation of negative aspects, such as liabilities or obligations that accumulate with the passage of time or as a consequence of ongoing activities.
Overall, the term "to accrue" implies the progressive build-up or accumulation of something over time, be it positive or negative, and is commonly used in financial and legal contexts.
The word "accrue" originates from the Latin term "accrescere", which is a combination of the prefix "ad-" meaning "to" and the verb "crescere" meaning "to grow". In Latin, "accrescere" had the sense of something gradually increasing or accumulating. Over time, the word was assimilated into Old French as "acreu", and then it later evolved into the Middle English word "accrue" with the same meaning.