| 释义 |
afford, v.|əˈfɔəd|
Forms: 1 ᵹeforð-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. ᵹe- prefix implying completeness + forð-ian to further, advance; f. forð forth, forward, onward. The prefix was subseq. reduced to ă- (see a- prefix 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.
c1050O.E. Chron. (Cott. MS.) an. 1045 He..þæt mynstre wel ᵹeforðode þa hwile þe he þær wæs. 1205Layamon 31561 Þæt nulle he come nauere no þine heste iuorðen. c1230Ancren 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.
1085O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) His feond..ne mihten na ᵹeforðian heora fare. c1123Ibid. an. 675 Hwilc man swa haueð behaten to foren to Rome, and he ne muᵹe hit forðian. c1175Lamb. Hom. 31 He ne mahte na mare ȝeforðian. Ibid. 39 Hwet ȝe sculen don ȝif ȝe hit maȝen iforðian. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. vi. 201 And ȝaf hem mete as he myghte aforth and mesurable huyre. a1420Hoccleve (in Halliw.), And here and there, as that my litille wit Aforthe may, eek thinke I translate hit.
3. With inf. or subord. clause. To manage (to do anything); with can: To have the means, be able or rich enough; to bear the expense.
c1449Pecock 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. 1514Barclay Cytezen & Uplandysh. (1847) 69, I may not aforde nowe for to spende out all. a1745Swift Mod. Educ. (J.) All families, where there is wealth enough to afford that their sons may be good for nothing. 1802M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. iv. 24 She could not afford to pay. 1814Wordsworth Excurs. i. 370 He could afford to suffer With those whom he saw suffer. 1833H. Martineau Brooke Farm viii. 98 Those who could afford to try new methods. 1847Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. xii, Luxuries which few could afford to purchase.
4. With simple obj.
a. To manage to give, to spare.
c1449Pecock Repr. iii. x. 336 Thei myȝten miche more avorthi into almes than thei that hadden litil. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. iv. i. 40 Praise we may afford, To any Lady that subdewes a Lord. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 912 Should God create another Eve, and I Another Rib afford. 1833H. Martineau Brooke Farm vii. 89, I cannot afford them a quart a day at my own expense. 1860Tyndall 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.
1617J. Rider (in Halliw.), Non possum tantulo vendere. I cannot afford it at so little price. 1705Addison Italy (J.) They fill their magazines in time of the greatest plenty so that they may afford cheaper. 1793Smeaton 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.
1833H. 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.)
1596J. Norden Progr. Pietie (1847) 89 To accept this church as his spouse and wife, affording himself to be her husband. 1633G. Herbert Ch. Porch iii, Gladly welcome what he doth afford. 1702Pope Wife of B. 254 Kind heav'n afford him everlasting rest. 1738Wesley Psalms li. 4 Tho' I have griev'd thy Spirit, Lord, His Help and Comfort still afford. 1817Jas. 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. 1853Marsden 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.
1581Lambarde Eiren. i. iv. 25 More than their owne Commission doeth afoord. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. i. 73 The world affords no law to make thee rich. 1593― Rich. II, i. i. 177, The purest treasure mortall times afford Is spotless reputation. 1671True Non-Conf. Contents, Whether the Angels of the Churches affoord any ground for Bishops. 1782Priestley Nat. & Rev. Relig. I. 354 Their whole history affords not a single instance. 1820W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 8 The lives of literary men afford no striking themes for the sculptor. 1876Gladstone Hom. Synchr. 234 The Poems afford no explanation.
7. To supply or furnish from its own resources, to yield naturally.
a1600Queen Elizabeth Let. in Beveridge Hist. India (1858) I. i. x. 236 Commodities which our dominions may afforthe. 1589Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 50 Can a countrie cotage affoord such perfection? 1611Bible Ps. cxliv. 13 That our garners may bee full, affoording all maner of store. 1654Baker Lett. of Balzac iii. 97 As Affrick affoards Lions, and France Souldiers. 1673Ray Journ. Low Countries 459 Olives..afford most oil when fully ripe. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 716 Fruits, which, of their own accord, The willing Ground, and laden Trees afford. 1756C. Lucas Ess. on Waters III. 238 The gardens afford good supplies of the best esculent vegetables. 1879in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 69/2 The figure..affords a correct representation. 1878G. Macdonald Ann. Quiet Neighb. xviii. 351 The comfortable confidence afforded by the mask of namelessness.
b. In this sense rarely of persons.
1588Greene Pandosto (1843) 36 He wondred how a country maid could afoord such courtly behaviour. 1839Murchison Silur. Syst. i. xxxviii. 530 We shall hereafter afford independent proofs of the existence of dry land. |