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more about afford
afford |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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 {Forth}.] 1. To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue; as grapes afford wine; olives afford oil; the earth affords fruit; the sea affords an abundant supply of fish. 2. To give grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish; as a good life affords consolation in old age. His tuneful Muse affords the sweetest numbers. --Addison. The quiet lanes . . . afford calmer retreats. --Gilpin. 3. To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting, expending, with profit, or without loss or too great injury; as A affords his goods cheaper than B; a man can afford a sum yearly in charity. 4. 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. The merchant can afford to trade for smaller profits. --Hamilton. He could afford to suffer With those whom he saw suffer. --Wordsworth. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: afford v 1: be able to spare or give up "I can't afford to spend two hours with this person" 2: be the cause or source of "He gave me a lot of trouble"; "Our meeting afforded much interesting information" [syn: {yield}, {give}] 3: have the financial means to do something or buy something "We can't afford to send our children to college"; "Can you afford this car?" 4: afford access to "the door opens to the patio"; "The French doors give onto a terrace" [syn: {open}, {give}]
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