afford

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other…

   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.
   • “[…] We are engaged in a great work, a treatise on our river fortifications, perhaps? But since when did army officers afford the luxury of amanuenses in this simple republic?[…]”
   • If a party member can afford the fee, then the syncophants^([sic]) will go to work.
2. 2

   To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting or expending, with profit, or…

   To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting or expending, with profit, or without too great a loss.

   • Alfred affords his goods cheaper than Bantock.
3. 3

   To give forth

   To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue.

   • Grapes afford wine.  Olives afford oil.  The earth affords fruit.  The sea affords an abundant supply of fish.
   • The percentage of nutritive elements contained in the parsnip is very small; so small, indeed, that one pound of parsnips affords hardly one fifth of an ounce of nitrogenous or muscle-forming material.
4. ›+ 1 more definitionshow fewer

   1. 4

      To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result

      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.

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