prefer English · revision 4455

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1388|origins=la praeferre}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /prɪˈfɜː/, US /prəˈfɝː/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|preferren]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|preferer]] (14th century),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and directly [[der|la|praeferre|t=to carry in front, place before, prefer]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from prae “before” and ferre “to carry, bear”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) from [[ine-pro|*bʰer-|alt=*bher-|t=to carry]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[bear]], [[refer]] and [[offer]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To put forward or advance in rank or fortune, to promote: 1388 in the OED,^(OED 1989) before 1393 in Barnhart, in Gower's Confessio Amantis, where it also means “to like better”.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning “to value one thing more than others, set before others in liking” is also from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and it is now the usual sense;^(Etymonline) the older sense, promotion, survives in [[preferment]].^(Etymonline) To put something before someone for acceptance, and in law to bring forward a charge, as in ''prefer charges'', is from 1573.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) To advance oneself, to further a result, and to set in front are obsolete.^(OED 1989) ''Preference'' first meant advancement (1456),^(Barnhart 1988) ''preferable'' is from 1648,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''preferably'' from 1729.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1388 – to promote in rank.^(OED 1989)

+ * a. 1393 – to like better.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1456 – ''preference'', advancement.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1573 – to put forward for consideration.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1648 – ''preferable''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To like or [[choose]] one thing rather than another.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' To bring a [[charge]] before a court.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(law)'' To give priority to a [[creditor]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To promote or advance in rank.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[preferrer]]

+ * [[preferredness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[preferable]]

+ * [[preference]]

+ * [[preferential]]

+ * [[preferment]]

+ * [[preferred provider]]

+ * [[preferred stock]]

+ * [[unpreferred]]

+ * [[bear]]

+ * [[refer]]

+ * [[offer]]

+ * [[confer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}