Preferring

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
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              He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl.
                                                    --Pope.
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              Presently prefer his suit to C[ae]sar. --Shak.
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              Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high.
                                                    --Byron.
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     2. To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to
        surpass. [Obs.] "Though maidenhood prefer bigamy."
        --Chaucer.
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     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.
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              I would prefer him to a better place. --Shak.
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     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.
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              If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. --Ps.
                                                    cxxxvii. 6.
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              Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war.
                                                    --Knolles.
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     {Preferred stock}, stock which takes a dividend before other
        capital stock; -- called also {preference stock} and
        {preferential stock}.
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     Syn: To choose; elect. See {Choose}.
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From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  prefer
       v 1: like better; value more highly; "Some people prefer camping
            to staying in hotels"; "We prefer sleeping outside"
       2: select as an alternative; choose instead; prefer as an
          alternative; "I always choose the fish over the meat
          courses in this restaurant"; "She opted for the job on the
          East coast" [syn: {choose}, {opt}]
       3: promote over another; "he favors his second daughter" [syn:
          {favor}, {favour}]
       4: give preference to one creditor over another
       [also: {preferring}, {preferred}]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  preferring
       See {prefer}