-fer, -ferous

Pertaining to a particularly fatal epidemic disease; especially, in the past, to bubonic plague.

1. To hold something out to someone so that he, or she, can take it or grasp it.
2. To offer something for consideration to someone; such as, to proffer an idea that we could use.
3. To present a proposal that is offered for acceptance or rejection.
4. Etymology: from Anglo-French profrier (about 1240), Old French poroffrir (about 1080); from por-, "forth" (from Latin pro-) + offrir, "to offer"; from Latin offerre, "to present, to bestow, to bring before" (in Late Latin, "to present in worship"); from ob, "to" + ferre, "to bring, to carry".

1. Something offered by holding it out.
2. Advice, or an opinion, which is submitted or offered.
3. Evidence that has been offered in a trial: "The lawyer proffered photos as new evidence of the criminal act."

The important thing is not how long you live, but how well you live.

1. To direct to a source for help or information, to send: "After completing the forms, I was referred to the personnel director."
2. To assign or to attribute to; make reference to, mention: "The writer referred to the history book to make his point."
3. Hand over, submit, deliver, transmit, pass along: "We referred the proposal to the board of directors."
4. Turn, go; consult: "Refer to the last page of the book for answers."

Although allude and refer are synonyms, their connotations and proper use are quite different. To refer to someone or something is to mention directly with specific identification. Allude means to mention indirectly or briefly in passing, to hint at; for example: "She has alluded to her husband but she has never given me any details about him."