afford
- afford
af|ford [ ə`fɔrd ] verb transitive ***
1. ) if you can afford something, you have enough money to be able to pay for it. This word always follows can, could, or be able to :
I'm not sure how they are able to afford such expensive vacations.
We need a bigger house, but we just can't afford the rent.
can/can't afford to do something: The company simply cannot afford to pay overtime.
2. ) if you can afford something you can do it without having to worry about it causing problems for you. This word always follows can or could :
Scientists are going abroad, taking with them skills that our country can ill afford (=cannot afford) to lose.
I'm so busy, I can rarely afford the luxury of a restful weekend.
can/can't afford to do something: No politician can afford to ignore the power of television.
3. ) FORMAL to provide something:
afford protection/shelter: The vaccination also affords protection against polio.
afford someone something: Letters survive that afford us a glimpse into his everyday life.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English.
2013.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
Afford — Af*ford ([a^]f*f[=o]rd ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Afforded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Affording}.] [OE. aforthen, AS. gefor[eth]ian, for[eth]ian, to further, accomplish, afford, fr. for[eth] forth, forward. The prefix ge has no well defined sense. See… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
afford — [ə fôrd′] vt. [ME aforthen < OE geforthian, to advance < forthian, to further] 1. to have enough or the means for; bear the cost of without serious inconvenience: used with can or be able [I m not able to afford a car; can you afford the… … English World dictionary
afford — UK US /əˈfɔːd/ verb [T] ● can afford Cf. can afford … Financial and business terms
afford — (v.) O.E. geforðian to put forth, contribute; further, advance; carry out, accomplish, from ge completive prefix (see A (Cf. a ) (1)) + forðian to further, from forð forward, onward (see FORTH (Cf. forth)). Change of th to d took place late 16c.… … Etymology dictionary
afford — [v1] able to have or do; within financial means allow, be able to, bear, be disposed to, have enough for, have the means for, incur, manage, spare, stand, support, sustain; concepts 335,713 afford [v2] give, produce bestow, furnish, grant, impart … New thesaurus
afford — ► VERB 1) (can/could afford) have sufficient money, time, or means for. 2) provide (an opportunity or facility). DERIVATIVES affordability noun affordable adjective. ORIGIN Old English, «promote, perform»; related to FORTH(Cf. ↑ … English terms dictionary
afford — index administer (tender), allow (endure), bear (yieid), bequeath, bestow, contribute (supply) … Law dictionary
afford — *give, confer, bestow, present, donate Analogous words: *offer, proffer: *furnish: *grant, accord Antonyms: deny (something one wants, asks, hopes for) pm4]Contrasted words: withhold, hold, hold back (see KEEP): refuse, * … New Dictionary of Synonyms
afford */*/*/ — UK [əˈfɔː(r)d] / US [əˈfɔrd] verb [transitive] Word forms afford : present tense I/you/we/they afford he/she/it affords present participle affording past tense afforded past participle afforded Get it right: afford: Afford is never followed by a… … English dictionary
afford — v. 1) to well afford 2) (formal) (A) it afforded great pleasure to him; or: it afforded him great pleasure 3)(E; preceded by the forms: can cannot can t could) we cannot afford to buy a new house; we can ill afford to lose this contract 4)… … Combinatory dictionary
afford — af|ford W3S1 [əˈfo:d US o:rd] v [T] [: Old English; Origin: geforthian to carry out , from forth] 1.) can/could afford [usually negative] a) to have enough money to buy or pay for something afford [to do] sth ▪ We can t afford to go on vacation… … Dictionary of contemporary English
