afford

verb (used with object)

1. to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect: The country can’t afford another drought.
2. to be able to meet the expense of; have or be able to spare the price of: Can we afford a trip to Europe this year? The city can easily afford to repair the street.
3. to be able to give or spare: He can’t afford the loss of a day.
4. to furnish; supply: The transaction afforded him a good profit.
5. to be capable of yielding or providing: The records afford no explanation.
6. to give or confer upon: to afford great pleasure to someone.

verb

1. (preceded by can, could, etc) to be able to do or spare something, esp without incurring financial difficulties or without risk of undesirable consequenceswe can afford to buy a small house; I can afford to give you one of my chess sets; we can’t afford to miss this play
2. to give, yield, or supplythe meeting afforded much useful information

v.

Old English geforðian “to put forth, contribute; further, advance; carry out, accomplish,” from ge- completive prefix (see a- (1)) + forðian “to further,” from forð “forward, onward” (see forth).

Change of -th- to -d- took place late 16c. (and also transformed burthen and murther into their modern forms). Prefix shift to af- took place 16c. under mistaken belief that it was a Latin word in ad-. Notion of “accomplish” (late Old English) gradually became “manage to buy or maintain; have enough money (to do something)” (1833). Older sense is preserved in afford (one) an opportunity. Related: Afforded; affording.