offer

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   something offered as a proposal or bid

   Noteworthy new offerings for investors included several index funds.

2. 2
   noun

   the verbal act of offering

   a generous offer of assistance

3. 3
   verb

   put forward for consideration

   I offered my opinion.

4. 4
   verb

   threaten to do something

   I offered to leave the committee if they did not accept my proposal

5. 5
   verb

   ask someone to marry you

   On top of the Eiffel Tower, I offered myself to my partner.

6. 6
   verb

   produce or introduce on the stage

   The Shakespeare Company is offering `King Lear' this month

7. 7
   verb

   make available or accessible, provide or furnish

   The conference center offers a health spa

8. 8
   verb

   present for acceptance or rejection

   They offered us all a cold drink.

Etymology

From Middle English offren, offrien. In the religious senses inherited from Old English offrian (“to offer, sacrifice, bring an oblation”); otherwise from Old French ofrir. Both ultimately from Latin offerō (“to present, bestow, bring before”, literally “to bring to”), from Latin ob + ferō (“bring, carry”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to carry, bear”), later reinforced by Old French offrir (“to offer”). Cognate with Old Frisian offria (“to offer”), Old Dutch offrōn (“to offer”), German opfern (“to offer”), Old Norse offra (“to offer”). More at ob-, bear.