Definition of PROFFER

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Verb

You may notice a striking similarity between "proffer" and "offer." Are the two words connected by etymology? Yes, indeed. "Proffer" comes from Anglo-French profrer, which itself is an alteration of the earlier "porofrir." That word in turn combines "por-" (which means "forth" and is related to our "pro-") and "offrir" (which means "to offer" and is an ancestor of our word offer). "Proffer" entered English in the 14th century. A more literary word than plain "offer," it adds or puts stress on the idea of voluntariness, spontaneity, or courtesy on the part of the one doing the tendering.

Examples of proffer in a Sentence

Verb

He proffered advice on how best to proceed. proffered his assistance in helping the two sides reach a compromise

Noun

a generous proffer of his baronial estate for the charity gala

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Markara Man had several charges proffered against him related to Pai’s status as a federal official. — Glenn Fleishman, Fortune, "FBI Arrests Man Who Threatened to Kill FCC Chair Ajit Pai's Children," 29 June 2018 Screening supervisors at airports have the discretion to decide whether, and when, to demand that passengers proffer up their pretzel packs for a solo trip through the X-ray machine. — Martine Powers, Washington Post, "It started with your shoes, then your water. Now the TSA wants your snacks.," 29 June 2018 Connor, 25 The gimmick: Stealing the lead away during cocktail hour, proffering a bottle of champagne and then drinking directly from it before offering Becca a flute-free swig. — Jay Willis, GQ, "Bachelorette Recap: What Your Opening-Night Gimmick Says About Your Chances at Finding Love," 29 May 2018 Since being elected South Korea’s president last May, Moon has repeatedly proffered olive branches to Kim. — Anna Fifield, Washington Post, "North Korean leader holds first direct talks with delegation from rival South," 5 Mar. 2018 Alongside a Golden Lion award at the Venice Biennale, which Piper won in 2015, this is among the very highest honors the art world can proffer. — Thomas Chatterton Williams, New York Times, "Adrian Piper’s Show at MoMA is the Largest Ever for a Living Artist. Why Hasn’t She Seen It?," 27 June 2018 Priest to the left, king to the right, and, between them, only half embodied within the flames of a ritual fire, a clone of the priest proffers a dish of magical, son-producing food. — Lee Lawrence, WSJ, "‘Epic Tales From Ancient India’ Review: Stories Told in All Their Splendor," 26 June 2018 Eighteen years ago, at the end of an official visit to North Korea, then-Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright brought an unexpected gift, proffering a basketball signed by Michael Jordan for Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un’s father. — Siobhán O'grady, Washington Post, "Dennis Rodman might go to Singapore. Here’s the story of his friendship with Kim Jong Un.," 6 June 2018 Lou is his father, once so distant and scornful of his fragile son, now softer and benign, proffering unwanted gifts that Sedaris has learned are easier for all concerned to accept with grace. — Alan Cumming, New York Times, "David Sedaris Has a New Essay Collection. It Changed Alan Cumming’s Whole Worldview.," 25 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In its second act, American Conservatory Theater’s production both makes a riot of a slow-motion fight scene and proffers ageless wisdom won from the ravages of war. — Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of April 22," 19 Apr. 2018 No matter what happens, this thought experiment proffers, someone is going to die. — Betsy Morais, Longreads, "The Menace and the Promise of Autonomous Vehicles," 13 June 2018 In its second act, American Conservatory Theater’s production both makes a riot of a slow-motion fight scene and proffers ageless wisdom won from the ravages of war. — Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of April 22," 19 Apr. 2018 In its second act, American Conservatory Theater’s production both makes a riot of a slow-motion fight scene and proffers ageless wisdom won from the ravages of war. — Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of April 22," 19 Apr. 2018 In its second act, American Conservatory Theater’s production both makes a riot of a slow-motion fight scene and proffers ageless wisdom won from the ravages of war. — Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of April 22," 19 Apr. 2018 In its second act, American Conservatory Theater’s production both makes a riot of a slow-motion fight scene and proffers ageless wisdom won from the ravages of war. — Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of April 22," 19 Apr. 2018 The Careless Whisper echoes a Sazerac with its rye and absinthe lethality camouflaged by chokecherry liqueur, while the Delicious #7 is the requisite mezcal proffer, its vegetal bite softened by applejack and herbal Benedictine. — Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, "Old Habits is bar food reborn," 20 Apr. 2018 In its second act, American Conservatory Theater’s production both makes a riot of a slow-motion fight scene and proffers ageless wisdom won from the ravages of war. — Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of April 22," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'proffer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.