afford

将“afford”分解为“af-ford”，想象“af”为“付出”，而“ford”代表“过河”，结合起来意味着“付出努力或代价才能过河”，这样就能记住它表示“负担得起”的含义。

afford 提供

前缀af-同ad-, 去，往。词根ford,向前，同forth. 指资助，推动前进。

afford

afford: [OE] This verb originally meant ‘accomplish, fulfil’. In Old English times it was geforthian, formed from the prefix ge-, denoting completion of an action, and forthian ‘advance towards completion’ or literally ‘further’ (from the adverb forth). The notion of accomplishing something or managing something gradually led, by the 15th century, to the idea of being able to do something because one has enough money.

Meanwhile, the original ge- prefix, which by Middle English times had become i- (iforthien), had been transformed into af- under the influence of the many Latin-based words beginning in aff-, and in the 16th century spellings with final d in place of th start to appear.
=> forth

afford (v.)

Middle English aforthen, from 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 "be able to bear the expense of, have enough money" to do something (late 14c.). Older sense is preserved in afford (one) an opportunity. Related: Afforded; affording.

1. They could not afford to spoil those maps by careless colouring.

若是上色的时候不小心弄坏了那些地图，他们可承担不起。

2. They pay full rates. Mind you, they can afford it.

他们付全价，请注意，他们是付得起的。

3. It would be nice to be able to afford to retire earlier.

无后顾之忧而能提早退休当是件幸事。

4. I really can't afford to see this company go belly up.

我绝对不能眼睁睁地看着这家公司垮掉。

5. He could not afford luxury food on his pay.

靠自己的工资他买不起奢侈的食品。

【equip, furnish, present, provide, volunteer, propose, supply, offer, afford】
equip: 侧重提供与技术有关的装备或设备等
furnish: 多指添置家具等供给生活的必需品或为生活舒适提供所需的服务设施
present: 既可指提出意见建议等，又可指拿出某物供人欣赏或赠送
provide: 与supply近义，但强调人的深谋远虑，侧重用贮备等方法作充分准备
volunteer: 侧重出于自愿，而不是奉命做某事
propose: 指直接而主动地提出问题或建议等，也指在讨论或争辩中提出具体意见或建议
supply: 普通用词，指提供任何所需求的东西
offer: 多指主动提出或提供意见或东西等，但是否接受由对方自行决定
afford: 一般只用于对抽象事物提供，也可指经济能力上的供给或支付

【furnish, accommodate, afford】
这组词都有“提供”的意思，其区别是：
furnish: v.指提供生活或某种用途所需要的东西。
• Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge, it is thinking that makes what we read ours. 阅读虽然为我们的思想提供了各种知识，然而只有思考才能将我们读到的内容变成自己的东西。
accommodate: v.提供住宿、房间；适应，迎合，迁就。
• This hotel can accommodate up to 500 guests. 这家饭店可供500位来宾住宿。
• The company accommodated the customer's wish and sent the delivery overnight. 公司满足了顾客的愿望，连夜将货物发了出去。
afford: v.负担，支付；当“提供”讲时，多用于指抽象事物的提供。
• We can't afford that expensive sports car. 我们买不起那辆昂贵的跑车。
• The tall building affords a beautiful view of the ocean. 从这幢高楼上可以看到大海的美丽景致。