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accrue

 - 4 dictionary results

ac⋅crue

  [uh-kroo]
Use accrue in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), -crued, -cru⋅ing.
1. to happen or result as a natural growth, addition, etc.
2. to be added as a matter of periodic gain or advantage, as interest on money.
3. Law. to become a present and enforceable right or demand.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME acruen, acrewen, prob. < AF accru(e), MF accreu(e), ptp. of ac(c)reistre to increase < L accrēscere grow. See ac-, crew 1 , accretion

Related forms:
ac⋅cru⋅a⋅ble, adjective
ac⋅crue⋅ment, noun

Synonyms:
1, 2. accumulate, collect, grow, increase.

Antonyms:
1, 2. dwindle, decrease, diminish, lessen, dissipate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To accrue
ac·crue   (ə-krōō')   
v.   ac·crued, ac·cru·ing, ac·crues

v.   intr.

  1. To come to one as a gain, addition, or increment: interest accruing in my savings account.

  2. To increase, accumulate, or come about as a result of growth: common sense that accrues with experience.

  3. To come into existence as a claim that is legally enforceable.

v.   tr.
To accumulate over time: I have accrued 15 days of sick leave.

[Middle English acreuen, from Old French acreu, past participle of acroistre, to increase, add, from Latin accrēscere, to grow : ad-, ad- + crēscere, to arise; see ker-2 in Indo-European roots.]
ac·cru'a·ble adj., ac·crue'ment n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

accrue 
1440, from O.Fr. acreue "growth, increase," from acreu, pp. of acreistre "to increase," from L. accrescere (see accretion).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ac·crue
Pronunciation: &-'krü
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: ac·crued; ac·cru·ing
Etymology: Middle French accreue increase, addition to a property, from feminine of accreu, past participle of acreistre to increase
intransitive verb 1 : to come into existence as an enforceable claim : vest as a right accrue until the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known that he may have suffered injury —National Law Journal>
NOTE: Statutes of limitations begin to run when a cause of action accrues.
2 : to come by way of increase or addition : arise as a growth or result —usually used with to or from accruing to society from the freedom of the press> accrues to the seller as a result of the delay>
3 : to be periodically accumulated in the process of time whether as an increase or a decrease accruing of taxes> accrue> transitive verb 1 : to accumulate or have due after a period of time accrue leave…in the maximum amount of 120 days —U.S. Code>
2 : to enter in the books as an accrual
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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