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Afford

//əˈfoɹd// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; (usually after an expression of ability, as could, able, difficult) to be able or rich enough; to spare.

    "I think we can afford the extra hour it will take.  We can only afford to buy a small car at the moment."

  2. 2
    be able to spare or give up wordnet
  3. 3
    To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting or expending, with profit, or without too great a loss. obsolete

    "Alfred affords his goods cheaper than Bantock."

  4. 4
    be the cause or source of wordnet
  5. 5
    To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue. rare

    "Grapes afford wine.  Olives afford oil.  The earth affords fruit.  The sea affords an abundant supply of fish."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    have the financial means to do something or buy something wordnet
  2. 7
    To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish.

    "A good life affords consolation in old age."

Etymology

From Middle English afforthen, aforthen, avorthien, from earlier iforthen, iforthien, ȝeforthien, from Old English forþian, ġeforþian (“to further, accomplish, afford”), from Proto-Germanic *furþōną, from Proto-Germanic *furþą (“forth, forward”), equivalent to a- + forth. Cognate with Old Norse forða (“to forward oneself, save oneself, escape danger”), Icelandic forða (“to save, rescue”).

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