afford

Meanings

1. To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; (usually after an expression of ability, as could, able, difficult) to be able or rich enough; to spare.
2. To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting or expending, with profit, or without too great a loss.
3. To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue.
4. To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish.

Etymology

From Middle English afforthen, aforthen, avorthien, from earlier iforthen, iforthien, ȝeforthien, from Old English forþian, ġeforþian (“to further, accomplish, afford”), from Proto-Germanic *furþōną, from Proto-Germanic *furþą (“forth, forward”), equivalent to a- + forth. Cognate with Old Norse forða (“to forward oneself, save oneself, escape danger”), Icelandic forða (“to save, rescue”).