To choose or be in the habit of choosing as more desirable or as having more value: prefers coffee to tea.
Law
To give priority or precedence to (a creditor).
To file, prosecute, or offer for consideration or resolution before a magistrate, court, or other legal authority: preferred the suit in a higher court.
Archaic To recommend for advancement or appointment; promote.
[Middle English preferren, from Old French preferer, from Latin praeferre : prae-, pre- + ferre, to carry; see bher-1 in Indo-European roots.]
1388, "to put forward or advance in rank or fortune, to promote," from L. præferre "place or set before, carry in front," from præ- "before" + ferre "to carry, to place" (see infer). Meaning "to esteem (something) more than others" is recorded from 1390. Original sense in Eng. is preserved in preferment (1451). Preference "act of prefering" is recorded from 1656; sense of "that which one prefers" is from 1864. Preferential is first recorded 1849.
like better; value more highly; "Some people prefer camping to staying in hotels"; "We prefer sleeping outside"
2.
select as an alternative over another; "I always choose the fish over the meat courses in this restaurant"; "She opted for the job on the East coast" [syn: choose]
3.
promote over another; "he favors his second daughter"
to like better Example: Which do you prefer — tea or coffee?; I prefer reading to watching television; She would prefer to come with you rather than stay here.
Main Entry: pre·fer Pronunciation: pri-'f&r Function: transitive verb Inflected Forms: 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 Pacific Reporter, Second Series
179 (1967)> 2: to bring forward for determination; especially: to bring (a charge) against someone <the various means by which a grand jury might prefer
charges —State v. Byrd, 399 South Eastern Reporter, Second Series 267 (1990)>
Choose\, v. t. [imp. Chose; p. p. Chosen, Chose (Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Choosing.] [OE. chesen, cheosen, AS. ce['o]san; akin to OS. kiosan, D. kiezen, G. kiesen, Icel. kj[=o]sa, Goth. kiusan, L. gustare to taste, Gr. ?, Skr. jush to enjoy. [root]46. Cf. Choice, 2d Gust.]1. To make choice of; to select; to take by way of preference from two or more objects offered; to elect; as, to choose the least of two evils. Choose me for a humble friend. --Pope. 2. To wish; to desire; to prefer. [Colloq.] The landlady now returned to know if we did not choose a more genteel apartment. --Goldsmith. To choose sides. See under Side. Syn: Syn. - To select; prefer; elect; adopt; follow. Usage: To Choose, Prefer, Elect. To choose is the generic term, and denotes to take or fix upon by an act of the will, especially in accordance with a decision of the judgment. To prefer is to choose or favor one thing as compared with, and more desirable than, another, or more in accordance with one's tastes and feelings. To elect is to choose or select for some office, employment, use, privilege, etc., especially by the concurrent vote or voice of a sufficient number of electors. To choose a profession; to prefer private life to a public one; to elect members of Congress.
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. He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl. --Pope. Presently prefer his suit to C[ae]sar. --Shak. Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high. --Byron. 2. To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. [Obs.] "Though maidenhood prefer bigamy." --Chaucer. 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. I would prefer him to a better place. --Shak. 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. If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. --Ps. cxxxvii. 6. Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war. --Knolles. Preferred stock, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; -- called also preference stock and preferential stock. Syn: To choose; elect. See Choose.
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