cost

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   value measured by what must be given or done or undergone to obtain something

   the cost in human life was enormous

2. 2
   verb

   to require to lose, suffer, or sacrifice

   This mistake cost me my job.

3. 3
   verb

   to be priced at

   These shoes cost $100

4. 4
   verb

   To incur a charge of; to require payment of a (specified) price.

   This shirt cost $50, while this was cheaper at only $30.

5. 5
   verb

   To cause something to be lost; to cause the expenditure or relinquishment of.

   Trying to rescue the man from the burning building cost them their lives.

6. 6
   verb

   To require to be borne or suffered; to cause.

   to do him wanton rites, which cost them woe

7. 7
   verb

   To calculate or estimate a price.

   I'd cost the repair work at a few thousand.

8. 8
   verb

   To cost (a person) a great deal of money or suffering.

   I can give you the names, but it'll cost you.

Etymology

From Middle English cost, from Old English cost (“option, choice, possibility, manner, way, condition”), from Old Norse kostr (“choice, opportunity, chance, condition, state, quality”), from Proto-Germanic *kustuz (“choice, trial”) (or Proto-Germanic *kustiz (“choice, trial”)), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵéwstus (“to enjoy, taste”). Cognate with Icelandic kostur, German dialectal Kust (“taste, flavour”), Dutch kust (“choice, choosing”), North Frisian kest (“choice, estimation, virtue”), West Frisian kêst (“article of law, statute”), Old English cyst (“free-will, choice, election, the best of an…