Other forms: proffered, proffering, proffers
To proffer is to hold something out for somebody to take. Proffer a hand, proffered an explanation, proffer advice.
It is more formal than offer and suggests the thing is being physically held out, which is why a proffered hand is the commonest use. In law, a proffer is a formal offer of evidence.
1verbprofferTo hold something out for somebody to take.
“He proffered a handkerchief to the crying woman beside him.”
proffer is an offering.
Middle English profre comes from Old French poroffrir, from Latin pro plus offerre, to offer.
Proto-Indo-European
*bʰer-
Middle English
profre — act of offering or presenting a gift; offer of something; challenge; sacrifice; act of petitioning or requesting; petition, request; proposal, suggestion; idea, thought; attempt, effort; appearance; (law) payment to the Exchequer by a sheriff or other officer of estimated revenue due to the monarch
English, today
proffer
The noun is derived from Middle English profre (“act of offering or presenting a gift; offer of something; challenge; sacrifice; act of petitioning or requesting; petition, request; proposal, suggestion; idea, thought; attempt, effort; appearance; (law) payment to the Exchequer by a sheriff or other officer of estimated revenue due to the monarch”)profer, profere, proferre, proffer, proffre, profir, profire, propfer, propher, profur, profure, profyr, profyre, and then:
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA