Part 131

2. A reënforcement; a strengthening. Hallam.

Af*for"ci*a*ment (&?;), n. See Afforcement. [Obs.]

Af*ford" (f*frd"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Afforded; p. pr. & vb. n. Affording.] [OE. aforthen, AS. geforðian, forðian, to further, accomplish, afford, fr. forð forth, forward. The prefix ge- has no well defined sense. See Forth.] 1. To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result, fruit, or issue; as, grapes afford wine; olives afford oil; the earth affords fruit; the sea affords an abundant supply of fish.

2. To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being the natural result; to provide; to furnish; as, a good life affords consolation in old age.

His tuneful Muse affords the sweetest numbers. Addison.

The quiet lanes . . . afford calmer retreats. Gilpin.

3. To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting, expending, with profit, or without loss or too great injury; as, A affords his goods cheaper than B; a man can afford a sum yearly in charity.

4. To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act which might under other circumstances be injurious; -- with an auxiliary, as can, could, might, etc.; to be able or rich enough.

The merchant can afford to trade for smaller profits. Hamilton.

He could afford to suffer With those whom he saw suffer. Wordsworth.

Af*ford"a*ble (&?;), a. That may be afforded.

Af*ford"ment (&?;), n. Anything given as a help; bestowal. [Obs.]

Af*for"est (&?;), v. t. [LL. afforestare; ad + forestare. See Forest.] To convert into a forest; as, to afforest a tract of country.

Af*for`es*ta"tion (&?;), n. The act of converting into forest or woodland. Blackstone.

Af*form"a*tive (&?;), n. An affix.

Af*fran"chise (&?;), v. t. [F. affranchir; &?; (L. ad) + franc free. See Franchise and Frank.] To make free; to enfranchise. Johnson.

Af*fran"chise*ment (&?;), n. [Cf. F. affranchissement.] The act of making free; enfranchisement. [R.]

Af*frap" (&?;), v. t. & i. [Cf. It. affrappare, frappare, to cut, mince, F. frapper to strike. See Frap.] To strike, or strike down. [Obs.] Spenser.

Af*fray" (&?;), v. t. [p. p. Affrayed.] [OE. afraien, affraien, OF. effreer, esfreer, F. effrayer, orig. to disquiet, put out of peace, fr. L. ex + OHG. fridu peace (akin to E. free). Cf. Afraid, Fray, Frith inclosure.] [Archaic] 1. To startle from quiet; to alarm.

Smale foules a great heap That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my sleep. Chaucer.

2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.

That voice doth us affray. Shak.

Af*fray" (&?;), n. [OE. afrai, affrai, OF. esfrei, F. effroi, fr. OF. esfreer. See Affray, v. t.] 1. The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack. [Obs.]

2. Alarm; terror; fright. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. A tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl; a fray. "In the very midst of the affray." Motley.

4. (Law) The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the terror of others. Blackstone.

A fighting in private is not, in a legal sense, an affray.

Syn. -- Quarrel; brawl; scuffle; encounter; fight; contest; feud; tumult; disturbance.