Cost (kŏst; 115), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Cost; p. pr. & vb. n.Costing.] [OF. coster, couster, F. coûter, fr. L. constare to stand at, to cost; con- + stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Constant.] 1. To require to be given, expended, or laid out therefor, as in barter, purchase, acquisition, etc.; to cause the cost, expenditure, relinquishment, or loss of; as, the ticket cost a dollar; the effort cost his life.
A diamond gone, cost me two thousand ducats.
Shak.
Though it cost me ten nights' watchings.
Shak.
2. To require to be borne or suffered; to cause.
To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe.
Milton.
To cost dear, to require or occasion a large outlay of money, or much labor, self-denial, suffering, etc.