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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | geforthian 'to carry out', from forth |
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af‧ford S1 W3
[transitive]
[transitive]1
can/could afford
[usually negative]a) to have enough money to buy or pay for something 
I couldn't afford the rent on my own.How can she afford to eat out every night?
I couldn't afford the rent on my own.How can she afford to eat out every night?b) to have enough time to do something : Dad can't afford any more time off work.
Dad can't afford any more time off work.c) if you cannot afford to do something, you must not do it because it could cause serious problems for you
! Afford can be followed by an infinitive with 'to', but not an -ing form: I can't afford to buy (NOT can't afford buying/can't afford buy) a car.2 formal to provide something or allow something to happen :
afford (somebody) an opportunity/chance It afforded her the opportunity to improve her tennis skills.
It afforded her the opportunity to improve her tennis skills. —affordable adjective: affordable housing
affordable housing