Library / English Dictionary

PROFFER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A proposal offered for acceptance or rejection

Example:

it was a suggestion we couldn't refuse

Synonyms:

proffer; proposition; suggestion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("proffer" is a kind of...):

proposal (something proposed (such as a plan or assumption))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "proffer"):

breath; hint; intimation (an indirect suggestion)

ghost; touch; trace (a suggestion of some quality)

advance; approach; feeler; overture (a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others)

Derivation:

proffer (present for acceptance or rejection)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Present for acceptance or rejection

Example:

She offered us all a cold drink

Synonyms:

offer; proffer

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "proffer" is one way to...):

give (transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "proffer"):

give (proffer (a body part))

tender (make a tender of; in legal settlements)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

proffer (a proposal offered for acceptance or rejection)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The respectable creature, satisfied with his lot whatever it was, arranged our portmanteaux on the little carriage that was to take us into London, as if they were intended to defy the shocks of ages, and received my modestly proffered donation with perfect tranquillity.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

His papers were in a little confusion, in consequence of Mr. Jack Maldon having lately proffered his occasional services as an amanuensis, and not being accustomed to that occupation; but we should soon put right what was amiss, and go on swimmingly.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)