proffer

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: prof=fer

CIDE DICTIONARY

proffer, v. t. [OE. profren, proferen, F. proférer, fr. L. proferre to bring forth or forward, to offer; pro forward + ferre to bring. See Bear to produce.].

•  To offer for acceptance; to propose to give; to make a tender of; as, to proffer a gift; to proffer services; to proffer friendship.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "I reck not what wrong that thou me profre."  [1913 Webster]
•  To essay or attempt of one's own accord; to undertake, or propose to undertake.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

proffer, n. 

•  An offer made; something proposed for acceptance by another; a tender; as, proffers of peace or friendship.  [1913 Webster]

  "He made a proffer to lay down his commission."  [1913 Webster]
•  Essay; attempt.  Bacon.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

proffer, v. & n.
--v.tr. (esp. as proffered adj.) offer (a gift, services, a hand, etc.).
--n. literary an offer or proposal.

Etymology

ME f. AF & OF proffrir (as PRO-(1), offrir OFFER)

THESAURUS

proffer

accord, administer, advance, afford, allot, allow, approach, asking price, award, bestow, bestow on, bid, communicate, confer, deal, deal out, dish out, dispense, dole, dole out, donate, extend, feeler, fork out, gift, gift with, give, give freely, give out, grant, hand out, heap, help to, hold forth, hold out, impart, invitation, issue, lavish, let have, mete, mete out, offer, offering, overture, pose, pour, prefer, preliminary approach, present, presentation, proposition, put up, rain, render, serve, shell out, shower, slip, snow, submission, submit, suggestion, tender, tentative approach, vouchsafe, yield

ROGET THESAURUS

proffer

Offer

N offer, proffer, presentation, tender, bid, overture, proposal, proposition, motion, invitation, candidature, offering, offering, offered, in the market, for sale, to let, disengaged, on hire.

VB offer, proffer, present, tender, bid, propose, move, make a motion, make advances, start, invite, hold out, place in one's way, put forward, hawk about, offer for sale, press, lay at one's feet, offer oneself, present oneself, volunteer, come forward, be a candidate, stand for, bid for, seek, be at one's service, go a begging, bribe.