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.
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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.
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His tuneful Muse affords the sweetest numbers.
--Addison.
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The quiet lanes . . . afford calmer retreats.
--Gilpin.
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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.
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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.
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The merchant can afford to trade for smaller
profits. --Hamilton.
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He could afford to suffer
With those whom he saw suffer. --Wordsworth.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
2000.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
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