favor
fa·vor (fā′vər)
noun
- friendly or kind regard; good will; approval; liking
- unfair partiality; favoritism
- a kind, obliging, friendly, or generous act to do someone a favor
- sexual privileges granted by a woman
- a small gift, souvenir, or token
- Archaic a token of love, as to a knight from a female admirer
- Archaic a business letter or note your favor of the 15th June
- Archaic
- appearance or look
- face or countenance
- Obsolete attractiveness; charm
Etymology: ME favour < OFr < L favor < favere, to favor < IE base *ghow-, to perceive > OE (ofer) gumian, to neglect, Czech hověti, to take precautions (with), spare
transitive verb
- to regard with favor; approve or like
- to be indulgent or too indulgent toward; be partial to; prefer unfairly
- to be for; support; advocate; endorse
- to make easier; help; assist rain favored his escape
- to do a kindness for
- to look like; resemble in facial features to favor one's mother
- to use gently; spare to favor an injured leg
Related Forms:
- favorer fa′·vorer noun
find favor
in favor
in favor of
- approving; supporting; endorsing
- to the advantage of
- payable to, as a check, etc.
in someone's favor
out of favor
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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