1. Offer,proffer,tender mean to present for acceptance or refusal. Offer is a common word in general use for presenting something to be accepted or rejected: to offer assistance.Proffer, with the same meaning, is now chiefly a literary word: to proffer one's services.Tender (no longer used in reference to concrete objects) is a ceremonious term for a more or less formal or conventional act: to tender one's resignation.2. give, move, propose.
to present or proffer (something, someone, oneself, etc) for acceptance or rejection
(tr)to present as part of a requirementshe offered English as a second subject
(tr)to provide or make accessiblethis stream offers the best fishing
(intr)to present itselfif an opportunity should offer
(tr)to show or express willingness or the intention (to do something)
(tr)to put forward (a proposal, opinion, etc) for consideration
(tr)to present for sale
(tr)to propose as payment; bid or tender
(when tr, often foll by up) to present (a prayer, sacrifice, etc) as or during an act of worship
(tr)to show readiness forto offer battle
(intr)archaicto make a proposal of marriage
(tr; sometimes foll by up or to)engineeringto bring (a mechanical piece) near to or in contact with another, and often to proceed to fit the pieces together
noun
something, such as a proposal or bid, that is offered
the act of offering or the condition of being offered
contract lawa proposal made by one person that will create a binding contract if accepted unconditionally by the person to whom it is madeSee also acceptance
Old English ofrian "to offer, show, exhibit, sacrifice, bring an oblation," from Latin offerre "to present, bestow, bring before" (in Late Latin "to present in worship"), from ob "to" (see ob-) + ferre "to bring, to carry" (see infer). The Latin word was borrowed elsewhere in Germanic, e.g. Old Frisian offria, Middle Dutch offeren, Old Norse offra. Non-religious sense reinforced by Old French offrir "to offer," from Latin offerre. Related: Offered; offering.
n.
early 15c., from Old French ofre "act of offering; offer, proposition" (12c.), verbal noun from offrir (see offer (v.)). The native noun formation is offering.
