v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Preferred p. pr. & vb. n. Preferring. ] [ F. préférer, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

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

Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. [ Obs. ] “Though maidenhood prefer bigamy.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Ps. cxxxvii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

Preferred stock, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; -- called also preference stock and preferential stock. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To choose; elect. See Choose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. préférable. ] Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being preferable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In preference; by choice. [ 1913 Webster ]

To choose Plautus preferably to Terence. Dennis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. préférence. ] 1. The act of Preferring, or the state of being preferred; the setting of one thing before another; precedence; higher estimation; predilection; choice; also, the power or opportunity of choosing; as, to give him his preference. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge over another's. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference? [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential claim; preferential shares. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Political Science) A system of voting, as at primaries, in which the voters are allowed to indicate on their ballots their preference (usually their first and second choices) between two or more candidates for an office, so that if no candidate receives a majority of first choices the one receiving the greatest number of first and second choices together in nominated or elected. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. The act of choosing, or the state of being chosen; preference. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Natural preferment of the one . . . before the other. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of preferring, or advancing in dignity or office; the state of being advanced; promotion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Neither royal blandishments nor promises of valuable preferment had been spared. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A position or office of honor or profit; as, the preferments of the church. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who prefers. [ 1913 Webster ]