Afford

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /əˈfoɹd/

Definitions

1. To have enough money or resources to pay for something, or to be able to do something without risk or harm
2. To possess the financial means or ability to acquire something, or to be in a position to undertake an action with minimal risk involved
3. Having sufficient resources to make a purchase or engage in an activity without incurring detrimental effects is essential

Etymology: The verb "afford" once meant to accomplish or bring about, not to pay. Its Old English ancestor "forþian" meant "to further" or "to make progress," built from the ordinary word "forth" and a prefix, so the core idea is moving something forward. That sense of making a thing happen carried into Middle English as "afforthen," which could mean to carry out a task or provide something needed. The shift to money came gradually. Once you could provide or furnish something, you could be said to be able to provide it, and the notion of being able to bear the cost of something grew from that sense of supplying or yielding. The modern meaning of having the means to pay for something is the result of this drift from doing and providing toward having the resources to do so.

Synonyms: provide, supply, give, grant, allow

Antonyms: deny, withhold, refuse, restrict, deprive