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| pre·fer [ pri fúr ] (past and past participle pre·ferred, present participle pre·fer·ring, 3rd person present singular pre·fers) |
transitive verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. like somebody or something better: to like or want somebody or something more than somebody or something else
  I prefer tea to coffee.
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2. law lay charge before court: to make a charge against somebody by submitting details of the alleged offense to a court, magistrate, or judge for examination, or prosecute such a charge
preferred charges against the accused
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3. law give priority to somebody: to give priority to one person, especially a creditor, over others
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4. promote somebody: to promote somebody to a higher position or rank
(
archaic
)
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| [14th century. Via French préferer< Latin praeferre "put before" < ferre "carry, bear"] |
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| pre·fer·rer noun |
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