Prefer

Prefer
Prefer Pre*fer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Preferred}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Preferring}.] [F. pr['e]f['e]rer, L. praeferre; prae before + ferre to bear or carry. See 1st {Bear}.] 1. To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; -- said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc. [1913 Webster]

He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Presently prefer his suit to C[ae]sar. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high. --Byron. [1913 Webster]

2. To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. [Obs.] ``Though maidenhood prefer bigamy.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

3. To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general. [1913 Webster]

I would prefer him to a better place. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; -- often followed by to, before, or above. [1913 Webster]

If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. --Ps. cxxxvii. 6. [1913 Webster]

Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war. --Knolles. [1913 Webster]

{Preferred stock}, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; -- called also {preference stock} and {preferential stock}. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To choose; elect. See {Choose}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • prefer — 1. The inflected forms of the verb are preferred, preferring, but other derivatives have a single r (preferable, preferably, preference, preferential, preferment). 2. When the subject of prefer is the same as that of a following subordinate verb …   Modern English usage

  • prefer — pre·fer /pri fər/ vt pre·ferred, pre·fer·ring 1: to give (a creditor or debt) priority or preference any preferred charges such as child support or alimony In re Smiley, 427 P.2d 179 (1967) 2: to bring forward for determination; esp: to bring (a… …   Law dictionary

  • prefer — [prē fʉr′, prifʉr′] vt. preferred, preferring [ME preferren < MFr preferer < L praeferre, to place before < prae , PRE + ferre, BEAR1] 1. to put before someone else in rank, office, etc.; promote; advance 2. to put before a magistrate,… …   English World dictionary

  • prefer — late 14c., to put forward or advance in rank or fortune, to promote, from L. praeferre place or set before, carry in front, from prae before (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + ferre to carry, to place (see INFER (Cf. infer)). Meaning to esteem (something)… …   Etymology dictionary

  • prefer — 1 *choose, select, elect, opt, pick, cull, single Analogous words: accept, *receive, admit, take: *approve, endorse, sanction: favor, *oblige, accommodate 2 *offer, proffer, tender, pr …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • prefer — [v] favor; single out adopt, advance, aggrandize, be partial to, be turned on to, choose, cull, desire, elect, elevate, fancy, finger, fix upon, go for, incline, like better, mark, optate, opt for, pick, place, pose, present, promote, propone,… …   New thesaurus

  • prefer — ► VERB (preferred, preferring) 1) like (someone or something) better than another or others; tend to choose. 2) formal submit (a charge or information) for consideration. 3) archaic promote to a prestigious position. ORIGIN Latin praeferre bear… …   English terms dictionary

  • prefer */*/*/ — UK [prɪˈfɜː(r)] / US [prɪˈfɜr] verb [transitive] Word forms prefer : present tense I/you/we/they prefer he/she/it prefers present participle preferring past tense preferred past participle preferred [never progressive] to like or want someone or… …   English dictionary

  • prefer — v. 1) (D; tr.) ( to bring ) to prefer against (to prefer charges against smb.) 2) (D; tr.) to prefer to (she prefers fish to meat) 3) (E) we prefer to remain at home 4) (G) I preferred going to a concert 5) (esp. BE) (H; no passive) I d prefer… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • prefer — pre|fer [ prı fɜr ] verb transitive *** never progressive to like or want someone or something more than someone or something else: Which do you prefer, the red or the blue one? prefer someone/something to someone/something: Even today, most… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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