Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

Affording

 - 3 dictionary results

af⋅ford

  [uh-fawrd, uh-fohrd]
Use Affording in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect: The country can't afford another drought.
2. to be able to meet the expense of; have or be able to spare the price of: Can we afford a trip to Europe this year? The city can easily afford to repair the street.
3. to be able to give or spare: He can't afford the loss of a day.
4. to furnish; supply: The transaction afforded him a good profit.
5. to be capable of yielding or providing: The records afford no explanation.
6. to give or confer upon: to afford great pleasure to someone.
Origin:
bef. 1050; ME aforthen, iforthen, OE geforthian to further, accomplish, equiv. to ge- y- + forth forth + -ian inf. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Affording
af·ford   (ə-fôrd', ə-fōrd')   
tr.v.   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.


[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 Indo-European roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

afford 
O.E. geforðian "to advance," from ge- completive prefix (see a- (1)) + forðian "to further," from forð "forward, onward." Change of -th- to -d- was 16c. (and also transformed burthen and murther into their modern forms). Prefix shift to af- took place 16c. under mistaken belief that it was a L. word in ad-. Notion of "accomplish" (late O.E.) gradually became "manage to buy or maintain; have enough money (to do something)" (1833). Older sense is preserved in afford (one) an opportunity.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see Affording on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way