v. Forms: 1 ʓeforð-ian, 2 ȝeforð-ien, iforðian, -en, 3 i-forðen, i-vorðen, 4–5 aforth(e, avorthi, 6 afforthe, aforde, 6 afoord, 6–7 affoord, affoard, 7 affowrd, 6– afford. [f. ʓe- pref. implying completeness + forð-ian to further, advance; f. forð forth, forward, onward. The prefix was subseq. reduced to ă- (see A- pref. 6), and this in 16th c. corrupted after L. af-. With the change of ð to d, cf. burthen, burden.] orig. To further, promote; hence achieve, manage to do, manage to give, have the power to give, give what is in one’s power, supply, yield.
† 1. To forward or advance to or towards completion; hence, to perform, execute, accomplish, fulfil. Obs.
c. 1050. O. E. Chron. (Cott. MS.), an. 1045. He … þæt mynstre wel ʓeforðode þa hwile þe he þær wæs.
1205. Layamon, 31561. Þæt nulle he come nauere no þine heste iuorðen.
c. 1230. Ancren Riwle, 366 (T. & C.). Þi wille, þauh, & nout min, euer beon iforðet [v.r. ifulled].
† 2. To carry out, accomplish, achieve, manage (something planned or desired). With may (= can). Obs.
1085. O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.). His feond … ne mihten na ʓeforðian heora fare. Ibid. (c. 1123), an. 675. Hwilc man swa haueð behaten to foren to Rome, and he ne muʓe hit forðian.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 31. He ne mahte na mare ȝeforðian. Ibid. 39. Hwet ȝe sculen don ȝif ȝe hit maȝen iforðian.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. VI. 201. And ȝaf hem mete as he myghte aforth and mesurable huyre.
a. 1420. Occleve, (in Halliw.). And here and there, as that my litille wit Aforthe may, eek thinke I translate hit.
3. With inf. or subord. cl. To manage (to do anything); with can: To have the means, be able or rich enough; to bear the expense.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. v. 306. Greet lordis mowe avorthi to haue … officers undir hem forto attende. Ibid., 562. The comoun peple myȝten the wors avorthi in cost of money for to gete to hem thir present book.
1514. Barclay, Cytezen & Uplondyshm. (1847), 69. I may not aforde nowe for to spende out all.
a. 1745. Swift, Mod. Educ. (J.). All families, where there is wealth enough to afford that their sons may be good for nothing.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. iv. 24. She could not afford to pay.
1814. Wordsworth, Excurs., I. 370. He could afford to suffer With those whom he saw suffer.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, viii. 98. Those who could afford to try new methods.
1847. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. xii. Luxuries which few could afford to purchase.
4. With simple obj. a. To manage to give, to spare.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., III. x. 336. Thei myȝten miche more avorthi into almes than thei that hadden litil.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. i. 40. Praise we may afford, To any Lady that subdewes a Lord.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 912. Should God create another Eve, and I Another Rib afford.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, vii. 89. I cannot afford them a quart a day at my own expense.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 27. 195. The loss of a single day was more than I could afford.
† b. To manage to sell (at such a price). Obs.
1617. J. Rider (in Halliw.). Non possum tantulo vendere. I cannot afford it at so little price.
1705. Addison, Italy, 505 (J.). They must take care to fill their Magazines in Times of the greatest Plenty, that so they may afford it at a cheaper Price.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone Lightho., § 116. The stone could be afforded at somewhat less price than Portland.
c. To manage to procure or maintain, etc.; to spare the price of, bear the expense of.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, ii. 19. I cannot afford stockings for so many, nor shoes either. Ibid., vii. 87. Now they could not afford beer, except a little on Sundays. Ibid., viii. 93. He cannot afford a team to plough his field.
5. Without can: To give of what one has, to furnish, bestow, grant, yield. (Often with to.)
1596. J. Norden, Progr. Pietie (1847), 89. To accept this church as his spouse and wife, affording himself to be her husband.
1633. G. Herbert, Ch. Porch, iii. Gladly welcome what he doth afford.
1702. Pope, Wife of B., 254. Kind heav’n afford him everlasting rest.
1738. Wesley, Psalms, li. 4. Tho’ I have griev’d thy Spirit, Lord, His Help and Comfort still afford.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. vii. 602. Rights which the custom of India gave, to the Prince who received over the Prince who afforded the tribute.
1853. Marsden, Early Purit., Pref. Should life and leisure be afforded to the author.
6. Of things: To be capable of yielding, to have for one who asks or seeks.
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., I. iv. 25. More than their owne Commission doeth afoord.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., V. i. 73. The world affords no law to make thee rich. Ibid. (1593), Rich. II., I. i. 177. The purest treasure mortall times afford Is spotless reputation.
1671. True Non-Conf., Contents. Whether the Angels of the Churches affoord any ground for Bishops.
1782. Priestley, Nat. & Rev. Relig., I. 354. Their whole history affords not a single instance.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., II. 8. The lives of literary men afford no striking themes for the sculptor.
1876. Gladstone, Hom. Synchr., 234. The Poems afford no explanation.
7. To supply or furnish from its own resources, to yield naturally.
a. 1600. Q. Eliz., Lett., in Beveridge, Hist. Ind. (1858), I. I. x. 236. Commodities which our dominions may afforthe.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 50. Can a countrie cotage affoord such perfection?
1611. Bible, Ps. cxliv. 13. That our garners may bee full, affoording all maner of store.
1654. Baker, Lett. of Balzac, III. 97. As Affrick affoards Lions, and France Souldiers.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low Countries, 459. Olives … afford most oil when fully ripe.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 716. Fruits, which, of their own accord, The willing Ground, and laden Trees afford.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. on Waters, III. 238. The gardens afford good supplies of the best esculent vegetables.
1879. in Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 69/2. The figure … affords a correct representation.
1878. G. Macdonald, Ann. Quiet Neighb., xviii. 351. The comfortable confidence afforded by the mask of namelessness.
b. In this sense rarely of persons.
1588. Greene, Pandosto (1843), 36. He wondred how a country maid could afoord such courtly behaviour.
1839. Murchison, Silur. Syst., I. xxxviii. 530. We shall hereafter afford independent proofs of the existence of dry land.
