Accrue

The word “accrue” has several meanings.

Main meaning:

• To accumulate or gather over time, often through gradual addition.

Examples:

• The debt accrued over the years.
• Interest accrued on a loan.
• Savings accrued through regular deposits.

Other meanings:

• To become larger or greater through growth, accumulation, or addition.
• To make something more severe or troublesome.
• To thicken or become solid.

Examples:

• The forest accrued a lot of new growth.
• The problem accrued more complications.
• The cream accrued into a solid mass.

Origin:

The word “accrue” comes from the Old English word “accrew,” meaning “growth” or “increase.”

Related words:

• Accretion
• Accrual
• Accrust
• Acreage
• Accumulate