offer
Definitions
To present something for someone to accept or refuse; to give the opportunity to have.
提供；给予；提议
To propose a price, deal, or service.
出价；报价；提议（交易）
To express willingness to do something.
主动表示愿做某事
A proposal to give or do something; a price proposed.
提议；出价；报价
A reduced price for a limited time.
特价；优惠
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedof- (a form of ob-, «toward») + fer (carry) = 'to carry toward.' When you offer something, you carry it toward another person, making it available. The ob- prefix erodes to of- before f (ob+ferre → offerre). Every modern use — job offer, special offer, offer help — preserves the «carry toward» image.
Root fer still carries 93 more wordsWhy It Means This
Offer hides one of the most useful examples of Latin assimilation in English: the prefix ob- (toward) becomes of- before f, just as in offend, official, offspring. The semantic image is wonderfully concrete — you literally carry something toward someone. The everyday verb sense (offer help, offer a seat) and the commercial sense (offer a price, special offer) share the same image. The noun has further specialized in retail («50% off — limited offer!»), but underneath it's still the act of putting something forward toward a recipient.
Usage Guide
- Give for acceptance: 'offer help,' 'offer a job,' 'offer advice' — make available
- Price/deal: 'offer £500,' 'special offer,' 'introductory offer' — propose terms
- Volunteer: 'she offered to drive' — willingness to do
- Pattern: «offer X to Y» / «offer Y X» (double object) / «offer to do»
- Stress: OF-fer (noun and verb same)
Example Sentences
- 1.
She offered me a cup of tea.
- 2.
The company offered her a senior position.
- 3.
The store has a special offer on shoes this week.
- 4.
I offered to help him move.
Synonym Comparison
- offer — present for acceptance; widely applicable
- propose — formal suggestion, often for joint action: «propose a toast»
- suggest — gentler than propose; ideas for consideration
- present — hand over or display, often formally
- provide — supply what is needed (less about acceptance choice)