- afford
- O.E. geforšian "to advance," from ge- completive prefix (see a- (1)) + foršian "to further," from forš "forward, onward." Change of -th- to -d- was 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 L. word in ad-. Notion of "accomplish" (late O.E.) gradually became "manage to buy or maintain; have enough money (to do something)" (1833). Older sense is preserved in afford (one) an opportunity. Related: Affordable (1866).