ACCRUE. To arise or spring as a natural growth or result. Accrued interest is the interest due for the period which, at a given moment, has elapsed since the last payment of interest, as for the time being it increases the principal debt. The word is not always free from ambiguity ; if, for instance, property accruing after a certain date is spoken of, it is not quite clear whether property in which a future interest was acquired before the period named, but which only came into possession afterwards, is included. E. S.