DEFRAY, verb transitive 1. To pay; to discharge, as cost or expense; to bear, as charge, cost or expense. It is followed chiefly by expense, charge or cost. The acquisitions of war seldom defray the expenses. The profits of a voyage will not always defray the charges, or even the cost of the first outfits. 2. To satisfy; as, to defray anger. 3. To fill; as, to defray a bottle.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI