Afford

Afford
Afford Af*ford" ([a^]f*f[=o]rd"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Afforded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Affording}.] [OE. aforthen, AS. gefor[eth]ian, for[eth]ian, to further, accomplish, afford, fr. for[eth] forth, forward. The prefix ge- has no well defined sense. See {Forth}.] 1. To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue; as, grapes afford wine; olives afford oil; the earth affords fruit; the sea affords an abundant supply of fish. [1913 Webster]

2. To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish; as, a good life affords consolation in old age. [1913 Webster]

His tuneful Muse affords the sweetest numbers. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

The quiet lanes . . . afford calmer retreats. --Gilpin. [1913 Webster]

3. To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting, expending, with profit, or without loss or too great injury; as, A affords his goods cheaper than B; a man can afford a sum yearly in charity. [1913 Webster]

4. To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; -- with an auxiliary, as can, could, might, etc.; to be able or rich enough. [1913 Webster]

The merchant can afford to trade for smaller profits. --Hamilton. [1913 Webster]

He could afford to suffer With those whom he saw suffer. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • afford — [ə fôrd′] vt. [ME aforthen < OE geforthian, to advance < forthian, to further] 1. to have enough or the means for; bear the cost of without serious inconvenience: used with can or be able [I m not able to afford a car; can you afford the… …   English World dictionary

  • afford — UK US /əˈfɔːd/ verb [T] ● can afford Cf. can afford …   Financial and business terms

  • afford — (v.) O.E. geforðian to put forth, contribute; further, advance; carry out, accomplish, from ge completive prefix (see A (Cf. a ) (1)) + forðian to further, from forð forward, onward (see FORTH (Cf. forth)). Change of th to d took place late 16c.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • afford — [v1] able to have or do; within financial means allow, be able to, bear, be disposed to, have enough for, have the means for, incur, manage, spare, stand, support, sustain; concepts 335,713 afford [v2] give, produce bestow, furnish, grant, impart …   New thesaurus

  • afford — ► VERB 1) (can/could afford) have sufficient money, time, or means for. 2) provide (an opportunity or facility). DERIVATIVES affordability noun affordable adjective. ORIGIN Old English, «promote, perform»; related to FORTH(Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • afford — index administer (tender), allow (endure), bear (yieid), bequeath, bestow, contribute (supply) …   Law dictionary

  • afford — *give, confer, bestow, present, donate Analogous words: *offer, proffer: *furnish: *grant, accord Antonyms: deny (something one wants, asks, hopes for) pm4]Contrasted words: withhold, hold, hold back (see KEEP): refuse, * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • afford */*/*/ — UK [əˈfɔː(r)d] / US [əˈfɔrd] verb [transitive] Word forms afford : present tense I/you/we/they afford he/she/it affords present participle affording past tense afforded past participle afforded Get it right: afford: Afford is never followed by a… …   English dictionary

  • afford — v. 1) to well afford 2) (formal) (A) it afforded great pleasure to him; or: it afforded him great pleasure 3)(E; preceded by the forms: can cannot can t could) we cannot afford to buy a new house; we can ill afford to lose this contract 4)… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • afford — af|ford W3S1 [əˈfo:d US o:rd] v [T] [: Old English; Origin: geforthian to carry out , from forth] 1.) can/could afford [usually negative] a) to have enough money to buy or pay for something afford [to do] sth ▪ We can t afford to go on vacation… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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