OFFERING

offering
    n 1: something offered (as a proposal or bid); "noteworthy new
         offerings for investors included several index funds" [syn:
         {offer}, {offering}]
    2: money contributed to a religious organization
    3: the verbal act of offering; "a generous offer of assistance"
       [syn: {offer}, {offering}]
    4: the act of contributing to the funds of a church or charity;
       "oblations for aid to the poor" [syn: {oblation}, {offering}]
    

Offer \Of"fer\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Offered}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Offering}.] [OE. offren, {AS}. offrian to sacrifice, fr. L.
   offerre; ob (see {OB-}) + ferre to bear, bring. The English
   word was influenced by F. offrir to offer, of the same
   origin. See 1st {Bear}.]
   1. To present, as an act of worship; to immolate; to
      sacrifice; to present in prayer or devotion; -- often with
      up.
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            Thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin
            offering for atonement.               --Ex. xxix.
                                                  36.
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            A holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices.
                                                  --1 Pet. ii.
                                                  5.
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   2. To bring to or before; to hold out to; to present for
      acceptance or rejection; as, to offer a present, or a
      bribe; to offer one's self in marriage.
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            I offer thee three things.            --2 Sam. xxiv.
                                                  12.
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   3. To present in words; to proffer; to make a proposal of; to
      suggest; as, to offer an opinion. With the infinitive as
      an objective: To make an offer; to declare one's
      willingness; as, he offered to help me.
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   4. To attempt; to undertake.
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            All that offer to defend him.         --Shak.
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   5. To bid, as a price, reward, or wages; as, to offer a
      guinea for a ring; to offer a salary or reward.
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   6. To put in opposition to; to manifest in an offensive way;
      to threaten; as, to offer violence, attack, etc.
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   Syn: To propose; propound; move; proffer; tender; sacrifice;
        immolate.
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Offering \Of"fer*ing\, n.
   1. The act of an offerer; a proffering.
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   2. That which is offered, esp. in divine service; that which
      is presented as an expiation or atonement for sin, or as a
      free gift; a sacrifice; an oblation; as, sin offering.
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            They are polluted offerings more abhorred
            Than spotted livers in the sacrifice. --Shak.
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   3. A sum of money offered, as in church service; as, a
      missionary offering. Specif.: (Ch. of Eng.) Personal
      tithes payable according to custom, either at certain
      seasons as Christmas or Easter, or on certain occasions as
      marriages or christenings.
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            [None] to the offering before her should go.
                                                  --Chaucer.
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   {Burnt offering}, {Drink offering}, etc. See under {Burnt}.
      etc.
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Offering
an oblation, dedicated to God. Thus Cain consecrated to God of
the first-fruits of the earth, and Abel of the firstlings of the
flock (Gen. 4:3, 4). Under the Levitical system different kinds
of offerings are specified, and laws laid down as to their
presentation. These are described under their distinctive names.
    

64 Moby Thesaurus words for "offering":
      Christmas present, advance, alms, alms fee, approach, asking price,
      award, benefaction, beneficence, bid, birthday present, box,
      burnt offering, cadeau, charity, collection, contribution, dole,
      donation, donative, drink offering, ex voto offering, fairing,
      feeler, gift, handout, handsel, heave offering, hecatomb,
      holocaust, human sacrifice, immolation, incense, infanticide,
      invitation, libation, mactation, oblation, offer, offertory,
      overture, peace offering, piacular offering, pittance,
      preliminary approach, present, presentation, proffer,
      sacramental offering, sacrifice, scapegoat, self-immolation,
      self-sacrifice, submission, subscription, suttee, sutteeism,
      tentative approach, thank offering, tithe, tribute,
      votive offering, white elephant, whole offering