/ˈfeɪ.və/, /ˈfeɪ.vɚ/
OriginFrom Middle English favour, favor, faver, from Anglo-Norman favour, from mainland Old French favor, from Latin favor (“good will; kindness; partiality”), from faveō (“to be kind to”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂weh₁yeti (“to be favourable to”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to shine, glow light”). Respelled in American English to more closely match its Latin etymon. Compare also Danish favør (“favor”), Irish fabhar (“favor”), from the same Romance source.
- countable, uncountableA kind or helpful deed; an instance of voluntarily assisting (someone).
“He did me a favor when he took the time to drive me home.”
- countable, uncountableGoodwill; benevolent regard.
“She enjoyed the queen's favor.”
“to fall out of favor”
“Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady.[…]She looked around expectantly, and recognizing Mrs. Cooke's maid[…]Miss Thorn greeted her with a smile which greatly prepo”
- countable, uncountableA small gift; a party favor.
“wedding favor”
“At the holiday dinner, the hosts had set a favor by each place setting.”
“A marriage favour is a bunch or knot of white ribbons or white flowers worn at a wedding.”
- countable, uncountableMildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.
“I could not discover the lenity and favour of this sentence.”
- countable, uncountableThe object of regard; person or thing favoured.
“All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man, / His chief delight and favour.”
- countable, obsolete, uncountableAppearance; look; countenance; face.
“This boy is fair, of female favour.”
- countable, uncountablePartiality; bias
- archaic, countable, uncountableA letter, a written communication.
“I will now take some notice of your last favour; but being so far behind-hand with you, must be brief.”
- Northern-England, archaic, countable, uncountableA resemblance, likeness.
- countable, obsolete, uncountableAnything worn publicly as a pledge of a woman's favor.
“James probably saw the family treasures, which included a little pair of gloves embroidered with pearls and the device of a lion, a lady's favour, said to have been taken from Harry Hotspur before the”
- countable, historical, uncountableA ribbon or similar small item that is worn as an adornment, especially in celebration of an event.
“The bride favors, or true love knots, ancient symbols of love, faith, and friendship, pointing out the indisssoluble tie of affection and duty, did not, as might be supposed, take their name of true l”
“Of all the new war cotillion favors yet devised there is hardly anything more novel than these. Aigrettes that are bunches of ribbons, red, white and blue, designed to be pinned in the hair at once, m”
“Since the good news young folk—and old, too, for that matter—bedeck themselves with favors. Charms hand pendent from the watch chain, from neck pins.”
- To look upon fondly; to prefer.
“And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
“Even in an era when individuality in dress is a cult, his clothes were noticeable. He was wearing a hard hat of the low round kind favoured by hunting men, and with it a black duffle-coat lined with w”
- To use more often.
“[…] alone, without having to favor his right, uninjured leg, […]”
- To encourage, conduce to
“These [boys being groomed as prostitutes] are sold by their parents (sometimes stolen from them), about the age of 4, and educated, while they are also subjected to a special physical training, which ”
- To do a favor noun sense 1 for; to show beneficence toward.
“Would you favor us with a poetry reading?”
- To resemble; especially, to look like (another person).
“I thought—it doesn't matter—you seemed to favour your ma,”
“You’re complected like your pa. He had red hair. But you favor your ma in your eyes and mouth.”
“‘Mandy?’ he said, and stared at the girl. ‘Don't favor her too much.’ ‘Favors her dad,’ Latha said, and looked at him.”
- To treat or use (something) gently
“I always try to favor my bad knee.”
Formsfavors(plural) · favour(alternative, Commonwealth, Ireland) · favors(present, singular, third-person) · favoring(participle, present) · favored(participle, past) · favored(past) · Favors(plural)