prof.fer

To offer for acceptance; tender

Etymology:

You may notice a similarity between "proffer" and "offer." The two words connected by etymology - "proffer" comes from the Anglo-French "profrer," which comes from the Old French "poroffrir."

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.

Synonyms: offer, proffer, tender, present

These verbs mean to put before another for acceptance or rejection.

OFFER is the basic general term in this group: offered us some tea; a store that offered sizable discounts.

PROFFER implies voluntary action motivated especially by courtesy or generosity: “Mr. van der Luyden... proffered to Newland low-voiced congratulations” (Edith Wharton).

To TENDER is to offer formally: tendered her respects; tendered my resignation.

PRESENT suggests formality and often a measure of ceremony: “A footman entered, and presented... some mail on a silver tray” (Winston Churchill).

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition