defrayed

Defrayed is the past tense of the verb "defray," meaning to provide the funds for something or to pay for it. It implies that the cost or expense of something has been covered or settled. For instance, a company might have its expenses defrayed by a grant, or a host might have the cost of a meal defrayed by a guest. The term suggests that a financial burden has been relieved or eliminated. It is often used in contexts related to expenses, costs, or payments, indicating that these have been taken care of. The origin of the word can be traced back to Old French and Middle English, relating to the act of clearing or paying.