afford
- afford
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. (and also transformed
burthen and
murther into their modern forms). Prefix shift to
af- took place 16c. under mistaken belief that it was a Latin word in
ad-. Notion of "
accomplish" (late Old English) gradually became "
manage to buy or maintain; have enough money (to do something)" (1833). Older sense is preserved in
afford (one) an opportunity. Related:
Afforded;
affording.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
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… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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 — [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
