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.
I would prefer him to a better place.
Shak. 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.
If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Ps. cxxxvii. 6.
Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war.
Knolles. Preferred stock,
stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; — called also preference
stock and preferential stock.
Syn. — To choose; elect. See Choose.
Preferability
(Pref`er*a*bil"i*ty) n. The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. J. S. Mill.
Preferable
(Pref"er*a*ble) a. [Cf. F. préférable.] Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something
else; more desirable; as, a preferable scheme. Addison.
Preferableness
(Pref"er*a*ble*ness), n. The quality or state of being preferable.
Preferably
(Pref"er*a*bly), adv. In preference; by choice.
To choose Plautus preferably to Terence.
Dennis. Preference
(Pref"er*ence) 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.
Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry.
Dryden.
Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge
over another's.
Locke. 2. That which is preferred; the object of choice or superior favor; as, which is your preference?
Preferential
(Pref`er*en"tial) a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence; as, a preferential
claim; preferential shares.
Preferment
(Pre*fer"ment) n.
1. The act of choosing, or the state of being chosen; preference. [R.]
Natural preferment of the one . . . before the other.
Sir T. Browne. 2. The act of preferring, or advancing in dignity or office; the state of being advanced; promotion.
Neither royal blandishments nor promises of valuable preferment had been spared.
Macaulay. 3. A position or office of honor or profit; as, the preferments of the church.
Preferrer
(Pre*fer"rer) n. One who prefers.