[of.fer] vb of.fered ; of.fer.ing [ME offren, in sense 1, fr. OE offrian, fr. LL offerre, fr. L, to present, tender, fr. ob- toward + ferre to carry; in other senses, fr. OF offrir, fr. L offerre--more at bear] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to present as an act of worship or devotion: sacrifice b: to utter (as a prayer) in devotion
2. a: to present for acceptance or rejection: tender "was ~ed a job" b: to present in order to satisfy a requirement "candidates for degrees may ~ French as one of their foreign languages" 3 a: propose, suggest "~ a solution to a problem" b: to declare one's readiness or willingness "~ed to help me"
4. a: to try or begin to exert: put up "~ed stubborn resistance" b: threaten "~ed to strike him with his cane"
5: to make available: afford; esp: to place (merchandise) on sale
6: to present in performance or exhibition 7: to propose as payment: bid ~ vi 1: to present something as an act of worship or devotion: sacrifice
2. archaic: to make an attempt
3: to present itself
4: to make a proposal (as of marriage)
[2]offer n (15c) 1 a: a presenting of something for acceptance "considering job ~s from several firms" "an ~ of marriage" b: an undertaking to do an act or give something on condition that the party to whom the proposal is made do some specified act or make a return promise
2. obs: offering
3: a price named by one proposing to buy: bid
4. a: attempt, try b: an action or movement indicating a purpose or intention -- on offer chiefly Brit: being offered esp. for sale