offer English · revision 2605

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 830 (Vespasian Psalter)|origins=la ferre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈɒf.ə/, US /ˈɑː.fɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|offren]], [[inh|ang|offrian|t=to bring forward; to sacrifice]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) an early Germanic borrowing [[bor|la-lat|offerre|t=to present in worship]],^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from Latin [[m|la|offerre|t=to present, bestow, bring before]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|ob-|t=to, toward]] and [[m|la|ferre|t=to bring, carry]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) from [[ine-pro|*bʰer-|alt=*bher-|t=to carry]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The religious word spread to Old Frisian, Dutch and Old Norse with Christianity.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) The non-religious senses come from or were reinforced by Old French [[m|fro|offrir|t=to offer]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) The noun is Middle English offre, from Old French offre, from offrir.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To present as a sacrifice, bestow in worship”: before 830, in the ''Vespasian Psalter'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 825 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Middle English offren is from before 1121, in the ''Peterborough Chronicle''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old English offrian also meant “to bring forward, show”.^(Etymonline) “To present for acceptance or refusal” is from the early 15th century^(Etymonline) or the 14th century.^(Hoad 1986) “To propose to do” is from the 15th century,^(Hoad 1986) and “to attempt to do” from the 1530s.^(Etymonline) The commercial sense “to expose for sale” is from the 1630s.^(Etymonline) The noun, a proposal presented for acceptance, is from the early 15th century^(Etymonline) or 1433,^(OED 1989) and the native noun is [[offering]].^(Etymonline) A proposal of marriage is from before 1548,^(OED 1989) and a bid of a price from the 1540s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''On offer'', for sale, is from 1794.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 830 – to offer in worship.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – to present for acceptance; noun, a proposal.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1548 – a proposal of marriage.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1540s – a bid.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530s – to attempt.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1630s – to put up for sale.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1794 – ''on offer''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To present for acceptance or refusal.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To put forward for consideration; to [[propose]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To provide or make available; to put up for sale.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To propose as payment; to [[bid]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # To present as an act of worship.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To show readiness to do something.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something offered, such as a proposal or bid.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A proposal which, if accepted, makes a binding [[contract]].^(AHD)

+ # The condition of being offered for sale.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[offerer]]

+ * [[offerable]]

+ * [[counteroffer]]

+ * [[reoffer]]

+ * [[tender offer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[offering]]

+ * [[offertory]]

+ * [[oblate]]

+ * [[oblation]]

+ * [[proffer]]

+ * [[confer]]

+ * [[defer]]

+ * [[differ]]

+ * [[infer]]

+ * [[prefer]]

+ * [[refer]]

+ * [[suffer]]

+ * [[transfer]]

+ * [[bear]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}