prefer

Where does the word "prefer" come from? It comes from Latin praeferre, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Prefer’s story begins in Latin: praeferre meant “to carry before, to favor.” To carry before, to place first, from prae- (before) and ferre (to carry). It reached English by 1300s as prefer. Settled as the English word for liking one thing more than another. Today, prefer means to like or want one thing more than another.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient praeferre "to carry before, to favor", to carry before, to place first, from prae- (before) and ferre (to carry).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s prefer "to like one thing more than another", settled as the English word for liking one thing more than another.