fer
fɜːr
One thing handed from this hand to that one
The picture Something lifted out of one hand and passed into another. Money, jobs and patients all travel that way. fer lifts and hands it across; port shoulders it and carries it down the road.
Where the picture shows up in fer
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carried over to the other side
I'll transfer the money tonight.
aɪl trænsˈfɜːr ðə ˈmʌni təˈnaɪt
I'll move the money across tonight.
Money sitting in this account moves overnight into that one.
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held out in front of you
They offered me the job.
ðeɪ ˈɔːfərd miː ðə dʒɑːb
The company held the job out to me.
A job is held out on both palms toward the person in front of you.
of (toward) + fer (carry) — holding something out is an offer.
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handed back on to someone else
The doctor referred me to a specialist.
ðə ˈdɑːktər rɪˈfɜːrd miː tuː ə ˈspeʃəlɪst
The doctor sent me on to a specialist.
Your file goes into an envelope and is passed on to a different doctor.
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carried to the front of the line
I prefer the night shift.
aɪ prɪˈfɜːr ðə naɪt ʃɪft
I'd rather work nights.
Two shifts lie side by side; the night one is pulled out to the front.
pre (in front) + fer (carry) — what you set out in front is what you prefer.
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carried apart
The two prices differ by ten dollars.
ðə tuː ˈpraɪsɪz ˈdɪfər baɪ ten ˈdɑːlərz
The two prices are ten dollars apart.
Two price tags for the same thing are carried to different spots and left apart.
All of it in one picture
fer is the handing motion itself. Carry it over to the other account and it is a transfer; hold it out in front of someone and it is an offer; hand your case on to another doctor and it is a referral. Carry one of two choices to the front and you prefer it; carry the two apart and they differ. The hand is always the same — the direction of the handover makes the word.