afford

English

/əˈfoɹd/, /əˈfɔːd/, /əˈfo(ː)ɹd/, /əˈfoəd/

verb
Definitions
  • 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.
  • To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting, expending, with profit, or without loss or too great injury.
  • To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue.
  • To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English afforthen inherited from Old English forþian derived from Proto-Germanic *furþōną, *furþa-, *furþa (forward, forth) pre from English forth.

Origin

English

forth

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms