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favorite - 5 dictionary results

fa⋅vor⋅ite

  [fey-ver-it, feyv-rit]
Use favorite in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person or thing regarded with special favor or preference: That song is an old favorite of mine.
2. Sports. a competitor considered likely to win.
3. a person or thing popular with the public.
4. a person treated with special or undue favor by a king, official, etc.: favorites at the court.
–adjective
5. regarded with particular favor or preference: a favorite child.
Origin:
1575–85; < MF < It favorito, ptp. of favorire to favor. See favor, -ite 2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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fa·vor·ite   (fā'vər-ĭt, fāv'rĭt)   
n.  
    1. One that enjoys special favor or regard.
    2. One that is trusted, indulged, or preferred above all others, especially by a superior: a favorite of the monarch.
  2. A contestant or competitor regarded as most likely to win.
adj.  Liked or preferred above all others; regarded with special favor.

[Obsolete French favorit, from Old Italian favorito, past participle of favorire, to favor, from favore, favor, from Latin favor; see favor.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Favorite

Fa"vor*ite\, n. [OF. favorit favored, F. favori, fem. favorite, p. p. of OF. favorir, cf. It. favorito, frm. favorita, fr. favorire to favor. See Favor.]

1. A person or thing regarded with peculiar favor; one treated with partiality; one preferred above others; especially, one unduly loved, trusted, and enriched with favors by a person of high rank or authority.

Committing to a wicked favorite All public cares. --Milton.

2. pl. Short curls dangling over the temples; -- fashionable in the reign of Charles II. [Obs.] --Farquhar.

3. (Sporting) The competitor (as a horse in a race) that is judged most likely to win; the competitor standing highest in the betting.

Favorite

Fa"vor*ite\, a. Regarded with particular affection, esteem, or preference; as, a favorite walk; a favorite child. "His favorite argument." --Macaulay.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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favorite 
1583, from M.Fr., from O.Fr. favorit, variant of favori, pp. of favorir "to favor." In racing, attested from 1813; slang shortened form fave first recorded 1938. Favoritism first attested 1763.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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