English Explanatory Dictionary

favor

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A kind or helpful deed; an instance of voluntarily assisting (someone).
  2. Goodwill; benevolent regard.
  3. A small gift; a party favor.
  4. Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.
  5. The object of regard; person or thing favoured.
  6. Appearance; look; countenance; face.
  7. Partiality; bias
  8. A letter, a written communication.
  9. A resemblance, likeness.
  10. Anything worn publicly as a pledge of a woman's favor.
  11. A ribbon or similar small item that is worn as an adornment, especially in celebration of an event.
verb
  1. To look upon fondly; to prefer.
  2. To use more often.
  3. To encourage, conduce to
  4. To do a favor [noun sense 1] for; to show beneficence toward.
  5. To resemble; especially, to look like (another person).
  6. To treat or use (something) gently
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈfeɪ.və/ /ˈfeɪ.vɚ/ en-us-favor.ogg En-us-favour.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-favor.wav

Word forms

favor favors favour favoring favored

Etymology

From 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.

Synonyms

aid help lending a hand token service abet assist endorse favoritize favourite sanction

Antonyms

discrimination disfavor unfavor harm sabotage discriminate

Derived words

curry favor every good boy deserves favor fall out of favor favor bank grace and favor in favor with in favor → in favor of in something's favor kissing goes by favor may the odds be ever in your favor not do someone any favors out of favor party favor return the favor sexual favor unfavor without fear or favor favorite misfavor favorable favourable favored favoured favorer favourer favorise favourite favoritism favouritism overfavor
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