AFFORD
afford
(verb) be able to spare or give up; “I can’t afford to spend two hours with this person”
yield, give, afford
(verb) be the cause or source of; “He gave me a lot of trouble”; “Our meeting afforded much interesting information”
afford, open, give
(verb) afford access to; “the door opens to the patio”; “The French doors give onto a terrace”
afford
(verb) 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?”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
afford (third-person singular simple present affords, present participle affording, simple past and past participle afforded)
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.
To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting, expending, with profit, or without loss or too great injury.
To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue.
To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish.
Usage notes
• Sense 1. This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See English catenative verbs
Source: Wiktionary
Af*ford", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Afforded; p. pr. & vb. n. Affording.]
Etym: [OE. aforthen, AS. gefor, for, to further, accomplish, afford,
fr. for 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition