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Definition of prefer - 5 dictionary results

pre⋅fer

  [pri-fur]
Use prefer in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -ferred, -fer⋅ring.
1. to set or hold before or above other persons or things in estimation; like better; choose rather than: to prefer beef to chicken.
2. Law. to give priority, as to one creditor over another.
3. to put forward or present (a statement, suit, charge, etc.) for consideration or sanction.
4. to put forward or advance, as in rank or office; promote: to be preferred for advancement.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME preferre < L praeferre to bear before, set before, prefer, equiv. to prae- pre- + ferre to bear 1

Related forms:
pre⋅fer⋅red⋅ly  [pri-fur-id-lee, -furd-lee] , adverb
pre⋅fer⋅red⋅ness, noun
pre⋅fer⋅rer, noun

Synonyms:
1. favor, fancy. See choose. 3. offer, proffer, tender.

Antonyms:
1. reject. 3. retract.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To prefer
pre·fer   (prĭ-fûr')   
tr.v.   pre·ferred, pre·fer·ring, pre·fers
  1. To choose or be in the habit of choosing as more desirable or as having more value: prefers coffee to tea.
  2. Law
    1. To give priority or precedence to (a creditor).
    2. To file, prosecute, or offer for consideration or resolution before a magistrate, court, or other legal authority: preferred the suit in a higher court.
  3. 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.]
pre·fer'rer n.
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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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.

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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : prefer
Spanish: preferir,
German: vorziehen,
Japanese: ～のほうを好む
More Translations »

prefer 
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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 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 prefer charges —State v. Byrd, 399 South Eastern Reporter, Second Series 267 (1990)>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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