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to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect:
The country can’t afford another drought.
to be able to meet the expense of; have or be able to spare the price of:
Can we afford a trip to Europe this year? The city can easily afford to repair the street.
to be able to give or spare:
He can’t afford the loss of a day.
to furnish; supply:
The transaction afforded him a good profit.
to be capable of yielding or providing:
The records afford no explanation.
to give or confer upon:
to afford great pleasure to someone.
Contemporary Examples

The only thing it may have accomplished was affording Touré a live audition for his own network show in the near future.
Piers Morgan Vs. Touré: How the CNN Host Blew It Allison Samuels March 30, 2012

Sometimes just affording your life there can feel like a perpetual grind.
Writers on Their Difficult—And Not So Difficult—Break-Ups with New York City October 22, 2013

My first week in Tel Aviv was one meeting followed by another, affording little time to enjoy this emerald by the sea of a city.
I Traveled 6,000 Miles and a Lifetime to See the Pride Flag Fly at the U.S. Embassy in Israel Jim Neal June 29, 2014

Historical Examples

Three of the treasure chests were standing beside the road, affording seats for as many weary carriers.
The Man From Brodney’s George Barr McCutcheon

The wigwams were comfortable, affording ample protection from wind and rain.
The Adventures of the Chevalier De La Salle and His Companions, in Their Explorations of the Prairies, Forests, Lakes, and Rivers, of the New World, and Their Interviews with the Savage Tribes, Two Hundred Years Ago John S. C. Abbott

This tree is said to be capable of affording shelter to 20,000 men.
Flowers and Flower-Gardens David Lester Richardson

She was studying Ensal and was affording him an opportunity to study her.
The Hindered Hand Sutton E. Griggs

At 29 feet from surface it is enlarged for the purpose of affording increased storage room for the water.
Water Supply: the Present Practice of Sinking and Boring Wells Ernest Spon

A place of hazard, as affording no protection either from sea or wind.
The Sailor’s Word-Book William Henry Smyth

He put it forth in all sincerity as affording to others like relief.
Edward Caldwell Moore Edward Moore

verb
preceded by can, could, etc. to be able to do or spare something, esp without incurring financial difficulties or without risk of undesirable consequences: we can afford to buy a small house, I can afford to give you one of my chess sets, we can’t afford to miss this play
to give, yield, or supply: the meeting afforded much useful information
v.

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 “manage to buy or maintain; have enough money (to do something)” (1833). Older sense is preserved in afford (one) an opportunity. Related: Afforded; affording.