Prefer

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pre=fer

CIDE DICTIONARY

Prefer, v. t. [F. préférer, L. praeferre; prae before + ferre to bear or carry. See 1st Bear.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl."  [1913 Webster]

  "Presently prefer his suit to Cæsar."  [1913 Webster]

  "Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high."  [1913 Webster]
•  To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "I would prefer him to a better place."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy."  [1913 Webster]

  "Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war."  [1913 Webster]

Preferred stock, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; -- called also preference stock and preferential stock.

Syn. -- To choose; elect. See Choose.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Prefer, v.tr. (preferred, preferring)
1 (often foll. by to, or to + infin.) choose rather; like better (would prefer to stay; prefers coffee to tea).
2 submit (information, an accusation, etc.) for consideration.
3 promote or advance (a person).

Idiom

preferred shares (or stock) = preference shares or stock.

Etymology

ME f. OF preferer f. L praeferre (as PRAE-, ferre lat- bear)

THESAURUS

Prefer

advance, aggrandize, aim at, approve, be desirous of, be disposed to, be partial to, bring before, bring forward, bring up, broach, choose, choose rather, commend to attention, cull, desiderate, desire, discriminate, elect, elevate, embrace, ennoble, enter, espouse, esteem, exalt, extend, fancy, favor, feel about it, file, graduate, have a bias, have designs on, have preference, have rather, hold forth, hold out, honor before, incline toward, introduce, kick upstairs, knight, launch, lay before, lean toward, lean towards, like, like better, lodge, look at it, love, lust, lust after, make a motion, mark, moot, move, offer, offer a resolution, open up, opt for, pass, pick, play favorites, please, pose, postulate, prefer to, present, proffer, promote, propose, proposition, propound, put, put forth, put forward, put it to, put up, raise, rather, recommend, see fit, select, set before, set forth, show preference, single out, start, submit, suggest, take, take to, tend toward, tender, think best, think fit, think proper, treat unequally, up, upgrade, view, want, wish, wish to goodness, wish very much, would fain do

ROGET THESAURUS

Prefer

Choice

VB offers one's choice, set before, hold out the alternative, present the alternative, offer the alternative, put to the vote, use option, use discretion, exercise option, exercise discretion, one's option, adopt, take up, embrace, espouse, choose, elect, opt for, take one's choice, make one's choice, make choice of, fix upon, vote, poll, hold up one's hand, divide, settle, decide, list, make up one's mind, select, pick and choose, pick out, single out, cull, glean, winnow, sift the chaff from the wheat, separate the chaff from the wheat, winnow the chaff from the wheat, pick up, pitch upon, pick one's way, indulge one's fancy, set apart, mark out for, mark, prefer, have rather, have as lief, fancy, be persuaded, take a decided step, take a decisive step, commit oneself to a course, pass the Rubicon, cross the Rubicon, cast in one's lot with, take for better or for worse.

Churchdom

VB call, ordain, induct, prefer, translate, consecrate, present, take orders, take the tonsure, take the veil, take vows.

Desire

VB desire, wish, wish for, be desirous, have a longing, hope, care for, affect, like, list, take to, cling to, take a fancy to, fancy, prefer, have an eye, have a mind to, find it in one's heart, have a fancy for, set one's eyes upon, cast a sheep's eye upon, look sweet upon, take into one's head, have at heart, be bent upon, set one's cap at, set one's heart upon, set one's mind upon, covet, want, miss, need, feel the want of, would fain have, would fain do, would be glad of, be hungry, have a good appetite, play a good knife and fork, hunger after, thirst after, crave after, lust after, itch after, hanker after, run mad after, raven for, die for, burn to, desiderate, sigh for, cry for, gape for, gasp for, pine for, pant for, languish for, yearn for, long, be on thorns for, hope for, aspire after, catch at, grasp at, jump at, woo, court, solicit, fish for, spell for, whistle for, put up for, ogle, cause desire, create desire, raise desire, excite desire, provoke desire, whet the appetite, appetize, titillate, allure, attract, take one's fancy, tempt, hold out temptation, hold out allurement, tantalize, make one's mouth water, faire venir l'eau a la bouche, gratify desire.