Literary notes about Incur (AI summary)
The term "incur" is often used in literature to indicate that one knowingly brings about an unfavorable consequence or burden through one’s own actions. Authors employ it to convey the acceptance of heavy responsibilities or risks, such as attracting blame, ridicule, or even legal penalties—as when a character seeks to incur trade responsibilities [1] or faces a fine and imprisonment [2]. Its usage extends to moral and ethical domains as well, where characters might incur divine displeasure, damnation, or social opprobrium [3, 4, 5]. At times, the word even conveys the burden of unwelcome costs or the loss of favor, whether through financial hardship [6, 7] or the risk of personal disgrace [8, 9]. In these varied contexts, "incur" encapsulates the idea of voluntarily exposing oneself to adverse outcomes, a concept that resonates throughout numerous literary works [10, 11, 12].
- Another understands the secrets of trade, and would like to incur the heavy responsibilities it involves.
— from History of Woman Suffrage, Volume I - It was enacted that anyone of the age of sixteen or upwards present at an unlawful assembly or conventicle was to incur fine or imprisonment.
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys - But if you are conquered by them, you will incur a double ridicule.
— from The Enchiridion by Epictetus - Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: But reprove him openly, lest thou incur sin through him.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - Let them fear the dread judgement of God, lest, for the gratification of their carnal desires, they incur the torments of eternal punishment.
— from Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England by Saint the Venerable Bede - In the last decree your Majesty concedes me one year’s salary as a gratification for the many expenses that I shall incur in so long a voyage.
— from The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 18 of 55 1617-1620 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century - Perhaps he did not like to incur the expense of a fatiguing journey with small chance of obtaining a sufficient remuneration.
— from Roughing It in the Bush by Susanna Moodie - But, also, you will agree that to incur an unmerited suspicion of murder is a prospect not pleasant to contemplate?"
— from Fathers and Sons by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev - “I pledge you my word, madam,” said the abbé, “that my intentions are good; and that your husband can incur no risk, provided he answers me candidly.”
— from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - Shall I incur the Divine displeasure rather than be called—ha—coward—scoundrel?—I'll think no more; I am resolved, and must fight him.”
— from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding - I AM grieved, Madam, to appear obstinate, and I blush to incur the imputation of selfishness.
— from Evelina, Or, the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World by Fanny Burney - Each side would sometimes be victorious and sometimes incur defeat.
— from Dio's Rome, Volume 1 by Cassius Dio Cocceianus
