expensas

expenses; costs

noun eks-PEN-sahs Rare

Origin: From Latin 'expensae' (expenditure, sums laid out).

Usage Note

Expensas is used almost exclusively in the fixed phrase a expensas de, meaning 'at the expense of' or 'at someone's cost' — both financially and figuratively (a expensas de su salud, at the expense of his health). As a standalone plural noun referring to legal or court costs it is formal and juridical. The singular expensa is rare in modern usage. The gender is feminine: las expensas.

Examples

"Vivía a expensas de sus padres."

Natural Translation

He lived at his parents' expense.

Literal Translation

He-lived at expenses of his parents.

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