Word Study
afford
CIDE DICTIONARY
afford, v. t. [OE. aforthen, AS. gefor, for, to further, accomplish, afford, fr. for forth, forward. The prefix ge- has no well defined sense. See Forth.].
- 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]
- 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." [1913 Webster]"The quiet lanes . . . afford calmer retreats." [1913 Webster]
- 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]
- 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." [1913 Webster]"He could afford to suffer
With those whom he saw suffer." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
afford, v.tr.
1 (prec. by can or be able to; often foll. by to + infin.) a have enough money, means, time, etc., for; be able to spare (can afford {pound}50; could not afford a holiday; can we afford to buy a new television?). b be in a position to do something (esp. without risk of adverse consequences) (can't afford to let him think so).
2 yield a supply of.
3 provide (affords a view of the sea).
1 (prec. by can or be able to; often foll. by to + infin.) a have enough money, means, time, etc., for; be able to spare (can afford {pound}50; could not afford a holiday; can we afford to buy a new television?). b be in a position to do something (esp. without risk of adverse consequences) (can't afford to let him think so).
2 yield a supply of.
3 provide (affords a view of the sea).
Derivative
affordable adj. affordability n.
Etymology
ME f. OE geforthian promote (as Y-, FORTH), assim. to words in AF-
THESAURUS
afford
accommodate, accommodate with, accord, administer, allot, allow, amount to, award, be loaded, bear, bear the expense, bestow, bestow on, bring, bring in, clothe, come to, come up to, command money, communicate, confer, contribute, cost, deal, deal out, dish out, dispense, dole, dole out, donate, endow, endure, extend, favor with, fetch, fill, fill up, find, fork out, fund, furnish, gift, gift with, give, give forth, give freely, give out, give up, grant, gross, hand out, have independent means, have means, have money, have the wherewithal, heap, heap upon, help to, impart, indulge with, invest, issue, keep, lavish, lavish upon, let have, maintain, make available, make provision for, manage, mete, mete out, mount up to, net, offer, pay, pay off, pour, pour on, prepare, present, produce, proffer, provide, provide for, rain, recruit, render, replenish, return, run into, run to, sacrifice, sell for, serve, set one back, shell out, shower, shower down upon, slip, snow, spare, spare the price, stand, stock, store, subsidize, supply, support, tender, total up to, undergo, vouchsafe, well afford, yieldROGET THESAURUS
afford
Giving
VB deliver, hand, pass, put into the hands of, hand over, make over, deliver over, pass over, turn over, assign dower, present, give away, dispense, dispose of, give out, deal out, dole out, mete out, fork out, squeeze out, pay, render, impart, communicate, concede, cede, yield, part with, shed, cast, spend, give, bestow, confer, grant, accord, award, assign, intrust, consign, vest in, make a present, allow, contribute, subscribe, furnish its quota, invest, endow, settle upon, bequeath, leave, devise, furnish, supply, help, administer to, afford, spare, accommodate with, indulge with, favor with, shower down upon, lavish, pour on, thrust upon, tip, bribe, tickle the palm, grease the palm, offer, sacrifice, immolate.Wealth
VB be rich, roll in wealth, roll in riches, wallow in wealth, wallow in riches, afford, well afford, command money, command a sum, make both ends meet, hold one's head above water, become rich, strike it rich, come into a sum of money, receive a windfall, receive an inheritance, hit the jackpot, win the lottery, fill one's pocket, feather one's nest, make a fortune, make money, enrich, imburse, worship the golden calf, worship Mammon.Receipt
VB receive, take money, draw from, derive from, acquire, take, bring in, yield, afford, pay, return, accrue.Price
VB bear a price, set a price, fix a price, appraise, assess, doom, price, charge, demand, ask, require, exact, run up, distrain, run up a bill, have one's price, liquidate, amount to, come to, mount up to, stand one in, fetch, sell for, cost, bring in, yield, afford.For further exploring for "afford" in Webster Dictionary Online
