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accrue

[uh-kroo]
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verb (used without object), ac·crued, ac·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.
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Origin of accrue

1425–75; late Middle English acruen, acrewen, probably < Anglo-French accru(e), Middle French accreu(e), past participle of ac(c)reistre to increase < Latin accrēscere grow. See ac-, crew1, accretion
Related formsac·cru·a·ble, adjectiveac·crue·ment, nounnon·ac·crued, adjectivenon·ac·cru·ing, adjectivesu·per·ac·crue, verb (used without object), su·per·ac·crued, su·per·ac·cru·ing.un·ac·crued, adjective

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

1, 2. dwindle, decrease, diminish, lessen, dissipate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for accruement

accrue

verb -crues, -cruing or -crued (intr)
  1. to increase by growth or addition, esp (of capital) to increase by periodic addition of interest
  2. (often foll by to) to fall naturally (to); come into the possession (of); result (for)
  3. law (of a right or demand) to become capable of being enforced
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Word Origin

C15: from Old French accreue growth, ultimately from Latin accrēscere to increase, from ad- to, in addition + crēscere to grow
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for accruement

accrue

v.

mid-15c., from Old French acreue "growth, increase, what has grown," fem. of acreu, past participle of acreistre (Modern French accroître) "to increase," from Latin accrescere (see accretion). Related: Accrued; accruing. Apparently a verb from a French noun because there is no English verb to go with it until much later, unless the record is defective.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper