incur

Where does the word "incur" come from? It comes from Latin incurrere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Incur’s story begins in Latin: incurrere meant “to run into, to attack.” To run into, to attack, from in- (into) and currere (to run). It reached English by 1400s as incur. Settled as the English word for bringing something unwelcome upon oneself. Today, incur means to become subject to something unwelcome, such as a cost or penalty.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient incurrere "to run into, to attack", to run into, to attack, from in- (into) and currere (to run).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s incur "to bring something unwelcome upon oneself", settled as the English word for bringing something unwelcome upon oneself.