# afford

Pronunciation: US say "uh-FORD" /əˈfoɹd/; UK say "uh-FAWD" /əˈfɔːd/

## Verb

1. To be able to bear the cost of something (in money, time, or risk) without serious harm.
   - Simple: To have enough money, time, or means to pay for or do something without trouble.
   - _Few families could afford such a large house in the city center._
   - _The company can afford to take a few risks while sales remain strong._
2. To provide or supply something, especially as a natural result, product, or opportunity.
   - Simple: To give or provide something, often as a natural result.
   - _The new role affords her considerable freedom to set her own schedule._
   - _Such open plains afford little shelter from the wind._

## Verb

3. To offer or supply something, as in a sale, at a price that yields a profit or avoids too great a loss. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To sell or offer something at a price that still brings profit or only a small loss.

## Origin

From Middle English afforthen, from Old English forþian, ġeforþian ("to further, accomplish, afford"), going back to Proto-Germanic *furþōną, from *furþą ("forth, forward"): essentially a- plus forth. It is cognate with Old Norse forða ("to forward oneself, escape danger") and Icelandic forða ("to save, rescue").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/afford (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).