| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| afford |
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| SYLLABICATION: | af·ford |
| PRONUNCIATION: |   -fôrd , -f rd |
| TRANSITIVE VERB: | Inflected forms: af·ford·ed, af·ford·ing, af·fords
1. To have the financial means for; bear the cost of: not able to afford a new car. 2. To manage to spare or give up: can't afford an hour for lunch. 3. To manage or bear without disadvantage or risk to oneself: can afford to be tolerant. 4. To make available; provide: a sport affording good exercise; a tree that affords ample shade. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English aforthen, from Old English geforthian, to carry out : ge-, perfective pref.; see yclept + forthian, to further (from forth, forth, forward; see per1 in Appendix I).
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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