From Middle English offer, from Old English offrian (“offer or make a sacrifice”) rather than from Old French offre (“offer”), from offrir (“to offer”), from Latin offerō (“to present, bring before”). Compare North Frisian offer (“sacrifice, donation, fee”), Dutch offer (“offering, sacrifice”), German Opfer (“victim, sacrifice”), Danish offer (“victim, sacrifice”), Icelandic offr (“offering”). See verb below.
Meanings
A proposal that has been made.
What's in his offer?
I decline your offer to contract.
One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
Something put forth, bid, proffered or tendered.
His offer was $3.50 per share.
An invitation to enter into a binding contract communicated to another party which contains terms sufficiently definite to create an enforceable contract if the other party accepts the invitation.
His first letter was not a real offer, but an attempt to determine interest.
ka შემოთავაზება (proposal) · is tilboð (proposal) · pt oferta (proposal) · fur ufierte (proposal) · is boð (proposal) · nl voorstel (something put forth) · lt pasiūlymas (proposal) · nl aanzoek (proposal) · sv offert (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · sh prijédlog (proposal) · ru предложе́ние (something put forth) · tl alok (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · nl aanbod (proposal) · eo propono (proposal) · mk понуда (proposal) · de Vorschlag (proposal) · cmn 提議 /提议 (proposal) · ky сунуш (proposal) · gd tairgse (something put forth) · da tilbud (something put forth) · pl oferta (proposal) · ga tairiscint (proposal) · mr प्रस्ताव (proposal) · my ကမ်းလှမ်း (proposal) · tr teklif (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · cs nabídka (something put forth) · es oferta (proposal) · bg офе́рта (proposal) · gd tairgse (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · pl oferta (something put forth) · de Antrag (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · tk teklip (proposal) · sv bud (something put forth) · kk ұсыныс (proposal) · cs návrh (proposal) · ps وړانديز (proposal) · da tilbud (proposal) · sk návrh (proposal) · tr öneri (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · nl aanbieding (proposal) · az təklif (proposal) · el προσφορά (something put forth) · nb bud (something put forth) · pdc Aabiedes (something put forth) · bg предла́гане (something put forth) · de Offerte (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · sh pȍnuda (proposal) · mk предлог (proposal) · sq propozim (proposal) · fi tarjous (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · pdc Aabiedes (proposal) · fi tarjous (something put forth) · vi chào hàng (proposal) · fr offre (something put forth) · cmn 建議 /建议 (proposal) · da udbud (something put forth) · eo oferto (something put forth) · scn ufferta (proposal) · fr offre (proposal) · be прапано́ва (proposal) · id tawaran (proposal) · ug تەكلىپ (proposal) · de Angebot (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · pt oferta (something put forth) · ka წინადადება (proposal) · kmr teklîf (proposal) · et pakkumine (proposal) · ps پېشنهاد (proposal) · it offerta (proposal) · pt proposta (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · be прапазі́цыя (proposal) · sl ponudba (something put forth) · be прапазы́цыя (proposal) · he הַצָּעָה (proposal) · sh прије́длог (proposal) · hi प्रस्ताव (proposal) · sw ofa (proposal) · pl oferta (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · hy առաջարկ (something put forth) · ru предложе́ние (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · tr sunu (something put forth) · da forslag (proposal) · sk ponuka (proposal) · ur پیشْکَش (proposal) · sh pȍnuda (something put forth) · ja 提供 (proposal) · es convite (proposal) · it offerta (something put forth) · gd tairgse (proposal) · de Angebot (proposal) · vi lời mời (something put forth) · km ការផ្តល់ជូន (proposal) · el πρόταση (proposal) · tr öneri (proposal) · cmn 提供 (proposal) · el προσφορά (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · uk пропози́ція (proposal) · hu ajánlat (proposal) · tr teklif (something put forth) · tg пешниҳод (proposal) · ja 提案 (proposal) · nl bod (proposal) · ca oferta (proposal) · uz taklif (proposal) · pt proposta (proposal) · de Angebot (something put forth) · ur پرَسْتاو (proposal) · sh по̏нуда (proposal) · ko 제안 (proposal) · pdc Gebott (something put forth) · nl voorstel (proposal) · cs nabídka (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · tr arz (something put forth) · fa-ira پیشْنِهاد (proposal) · yi אָנבאָט (proposal) · gl oferta (proposal) · da udbudsforretning (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · fr proposition (proposal) · tr öneri (something put forth) · it transazione (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · fur ufierte (something put forth) · nl bod (something put forth) · sv erbjudande (proposal) · yi פֿאָרשלאָג (proposal) · sh prédlog (proposal) · cs nabídka (proposal) · hi पेशकश (proposal) · nl bod (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · lo ການສະເໜີ (proposal) · br kinnig (proposal) · kmr pêşniyaz (proposal) · vi lời đề nghị (proposal) · nb tilbud (proposal) · sl predlog (proposal) · rm offerta (proposal) · bg предложе́ние (proposal) · ar اِقْتِرَاح (proposal) · nn bod (something put forth) · sh по̏нуда (something put forth) · nn tilbod (something put forth) · fr offre (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · pdc Gebott (proposal) · kmr pêşniyar (proposal) · pdc Aabieding (something put forth) · hi प्रस्ताव (something put forth) · pdc Aabieding (proposal) · nb forslag (proposal) · lv piedāvājums (proposal) · nn anbod (law: invitation to enter binding contract) · lv piedāvājums (something put forth) · mn санал (proposal) · tl alok (something put forth) · th ข้อเสนอ (proposal) · pl propozycja (proposal) · tr teklif (proposal) · sv förslag (proposal) · ru предложе́ние (proposal) · kk ұсыным (proposal) · nb tilbud (something put forth) · ko 제공 (proposal) · it proposta (proposal) · fi tarjous (proposal) · hy առաջարկ (proposal) · tl alok (proposal) · sh пре́длог (proposal) · da bud (proposal) · sv bud (proposal) · nb anbud (law: invitation to enter binding contract)
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.
Meanings
(intransitive) To propose or express one's willingness (to do something).
She offered to help with her homework.
(transitive) To present in words; to proffer; to make a proposal of; to suggest.
Everybody offered an opinion.
(transitive) To place at someone’s disposal; to present (something) to be either accepted or turned down.
Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers,[…]. Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either. 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter II, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
He offered use of his car for the week.
He offered his good will for the Councilman's vote.
Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic[…]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become.[…]But the scandals kept coming,[…]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul. Instead it offers fixes and patches. 2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:
(transitive) To place at someone’s disposal; to present (something) to be either accepted or turned down. ▸ To present (something) for sale.
(transitive) To present (something) to God or gods, as a gesture of worship or as a sacrifice.
Thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus xxix:36:
(of a thing, transitive) To present (something) to the sight etc.; to provide for use, consideration etc.
The city offers beautiful architecture.
(transitive) To place (something) in a position where it can be added to an existing mechanical assembly.
The next stage is to remove and replace the top part of the right side lip, and offer the lid to the car to ensure all the shapes and gaps are okay. 2009, Roger Williams, Triumph TR2, 3, 3A, 4 & 4A:
(transitive) To bid, as a price, reward, or wages.
I offered twenty dollars for it. The company is offering a salary of £30,000 a year.
(intransitive) To happen, to present itself.
The opportunity however did not offer till next morning, for Phœbe did not come to bed till long after I was gone to ſleep: 1749, [John Cleland], “[Letter the First]”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], volume I, London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC, page 72:
Much was I disappointed upon learning that the little packet for Nantucket had already sailed, and that no way of reaching that place would offer, till the following Monday. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 2, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 7:
The occasion offers, and the youth complies. 1697, Virgil, “The Fourth Book of the Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
(obsolete) To make an attempt; typically used with at.
[W]ithout offering at any other Remedy, without taking time to conſider the Conſequences, or to reflect on our own Condition, we haſtily engaged in a War which hath coſt us ſixty Millions; […] 1711 December 8 (Gregorian calendar), [Jonathan Swift], The Conduct of the Allies, and of the Late Ministry, in Beginning and Carrying on the Present War, 4th edition, London: […] John Morphew […], published 1711, →OCLC, pages 19–20:
He would be offering at the shepherd's voice. 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
I will not offer at that I cannot master. a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC:
Here Jones, after expressing the utmost uneasiness, offered to stop her mouth:—“Hey-day! why sure, Mr Jones, you will let me speak; I speaks no scandal, for I only says what I heard from others […] 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
(transitive) To put in opposition to; to manifest in an offensive or defensive way; to threaten.
The peasants offered no resistance as they were rounded up.
to offer violence to somebody
A car turned the corner and stopped, and three or four people emerged and approached her, grabbing her purse. When she offered resistance, one of the assailants took out a knife and stabbed her in the lower abdomen and legs. 1979 December 15, “Two Assaulted in Bay Village in Separate Incidents”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 21, page 3:
The Viet Cong and NVA tended to offer battle only when they felt that they held a tactical advantage – if they didn't they usually hunkered down in their nearly invisible bunkers and let the Americans pass. 2013, Andrew Wiest, Vietnam: A View from the Front Lines, page 125:
nrf offri (propose) · vi bày bán (place at disposal) · nl aanbieden (place at disposal) · it presentare (to present something as a gesture of worship) · pl oferować (place at disposal) · alt адап берер (propose) · sc oferrere (propose) · sv erbjuda (propose) · ga ofráil (to present something as a gesture of worship) · km លើកឲ្យ (place at disposal) · la porriciō (to present something as a gesture of worship) · ar قَدَّمَ (to present something as a gesture of worship) · cmn 開設 /开设 (place at disposal) · nb foreslå (propose) · be прапано́ўваць (propose) · my ကမ်းလှမ်း (propose) · scn òffriri (propose) · fr offrir (place at disposal) · nl presenteren (propose) · ja 提議する (propose) · cs nabídnout (propose) · sv offra (to present something as a gesture of worship) · eu eskaini (place at disposal) · he קיטר (to present something as a gesture of worship) · es ofrecer (place at disposal) · sk ponúknuť (propose) · tr önermek (place at disposal) · ka შეთავაზება (propose) · zdj utamania (place at disposal) · ru предоставля́ть (place at disposal) · es presentar (place at disposal) · oc ofrir (propose) · be прапанава́ць (propose) · el προσφέρω (place at disposal) · oc ofrir (place at disposal) · as যাচ (propose) · de anbieten (place at disposal) · lt siūlyti (propose) · ja 建議する (propose) · cmn 提議 /提议 (propose) · sk ponúknuť (place at disposal) · gmw-cfr aabeie (place at disposal) · gsw aabüüte (propose) · cmn 提供 (place at disposal) · it offrire (place at disposal) · hu kínál (place at disposal) · ar اِقْتَرَحَ (propose) · grc παρέχω (place at disposal) · bg предла́гам (place at disposal) · alt сунар (propose) · xfa pordo (propose) · lt pasiūlyti (propose) · gd tairg (place at disposal) · vec ofrir (propose) · cs nabízet (place at disposal) · acw قَدَّم (propose) · pl zaproponować (propose) · th เสนอ (place at disposal) · sh предла́гати (propose) · alt берер (propose) · rm offerir (propose) · nl offeren (to present something as a gesture of worship) · ca oferir (propose) · izh tarita (place at disposal) · cs nabídnout (place at disposal) · eo proponi (propose) · sh предло̀жити (propose) · ca ofrenar (to present something as a gesture of worship) · hu felajánl (place at disposal) · et pakkuma (propose) · hi प्रस्ताव करना (propose) · sc oferriri (propose) · ru предложи́ть (place at disposal) · vi hiến (to present something as a gesture of worship) · sl ponuditi (place at disposal) · nl vertonen (place at disposal) · bg предло́жа (propose) · hu felajánl (propose) · gd tairg (propose) · rm offereir (propose) · fro ofrir (propose) · sh predlòžiti (propose) · nl voorstellen (propose) · gd tathainn (propose) · pdc aabiede (propose) · bo བཏབ་པ (place at disposal) · xfa pordo (place at disposal) · ang bēodan (propose) · ar قَدَّمَ (propose) · hu ajánl (propose) · pl oferować (propose) · uk пропонува́ти (propose) · sh по̀нудити (place at disposal) · bg принеса́ в же́ртва (to present something as a gesture of worship) · es convidar (propose) · fr offrir (propose) · sv föreslå (propose) · acw اقترح (propose) · sc oferri (propose) · pl zaoferować (propose) · sh pònuditi (place at disposal) · gd tathainn (place at disposal) · ru предоста́вить (place at disposal) · de opfern (to present something as a gesture of worship) · fr offrir (to present something as a gesture of worship) · ru предлага́ть (propose) · fi tarjota (place at disposal) · ro oferi (propose) · mk понудува (propose) · cs nabízet (propose) · sh predlágati (propose) · ast ufrir (propose) · rm offrir (propose) · da foreslå (propose) · gl ofrendar (to present something as a gesture of worship) · fur ufrî (propose) · es ofrendar (to present something as a gesture of worship) · it offrire (to present something as a gesture of worship) · gl ofrecer (propose) · lv piedāvāt (propose) · nl presenteren (place at disposal) · bg прина́сям в же́ртва (to present something as a gesture of worship) · nl voorstellen (place at disposal) · nb tilby (place at disposal) · it offrire (propose) · de anbieten (propose) · hu kínál (propose) · eo oferdoni (to present something as a gesture of worship) · tr sunmak (propose) · km ជូន (place at disposal) · cy cynnig (place at disposal) · pt oferecer (place at disposal) · cmn 建議 /建议 (propose) · mi whakahere (to present something as a gesture of worship) · sk ponúkať (propose) · got 𐌲𐌰𐍃𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to present something as a gesture of worship) · la offerō (propose) · bg предла́гам (propose) · sl predlagati (propose) · ja 申し出る (propose) · arz قدم (place at disposal) · pl zaoferować (place at disposal) · ko 제의하다 (propose) · uk офірува́ти (propose) · alt айдып берер (propose) · sk ponúkať (place at disposal) · ru предлага́ть (place at disposal) · de vorschlagen (propose) · tr teklif etmek (place at disposal) · pt oferecer (propose) · vi dâng (to present something as a gesture of worship) · pl proponować (propose) · fi asettaa käyttöön (place at disposal) · it proporre (propose) · pl proponować (place at disposal) · eo disponigi (place at disposal) · mk понуди (propose) · es ofrecer (propose) · da tilbyde (propose) · da udsætte (place at disposal) · eo oferi (to present something as a gesture of worship) · hu indítványoz (propose) · bg предло́жа (place at disposal) · ja 提供する (place at disposal) · br kinnig (propose) · fi tarjota (propose) · mr प्रस्ताव करणे (propose) · osx biodan (propose) · hy առաջարկել (propose) · la praebeō (place at disposal) · rm ofrir (propose) · da tilbyde (place at disposal) · sv erbjuda (place at disposal) · la offerō (to present something as a gesture of worship) · da udlove (place at disposal) · vi đề nghị (propose) · ast ofrecer (propose) · fi uhrata (to present something as a gesture of worship) · th เสนอ (propose) · pl zaproponować (place at disposal) · el προσφέρομαι (propose) · el προθυμοποιούμαι (propose) · ru предложи́ть (propose) · fi ehdottaa (propose) · nl indienen (propose)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep
Proto-Indo-European *-o
Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó
Proto-Germanic *ab
Proto-West Germanic *ab
Old English æf
Old English of
Middle English of
English off
English -er
English offer
From off + -er.
Meanings
(agent, form-of, used in combinations from phrasal verbs) agent noun of off
Once you finally discover yourself a dismember-er, a de-limber, a fucking head-cutter-offer, the most simple of tasks — enjoying a long walk outside, seeing a movie, conversing with a stranger in the library — all become prized and over-inflated moments of elation. 2003, James-Jason Gantt, Losing Summer, →ISBN, page 146: