v. t.
He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
Presently prefer his suit to Cæsar. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]
I would prefer him to a better place. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
If I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Ps. cxxxvii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]
Preferred an infamous peace before a most just war. Knolles. [ 1913 Webster ]
Preferred stock,
n. The quality or state of being preferable; preferableness. J. S. Mill. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Cf. F. préférable. ] Worthy to be preferred or chosen before something else; more desirable;
n. The quality or state of being preferable. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In preference; by choice. [ 1913 Webster ]
To choose Plautus preferably to Terence. Dennis. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. F. préférence. ]
Leave the critics on either side to contend about the preference due to this or that sort of poetry. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
Knowledge of things alone gives a value to our reasonings, and preference of one man's knowledge over another's. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Giving, indicating, or having a preference or precedence;
. (Political Science) A system of voting, as at primaries, in which the voters are allowed to indicate on their ballots their preference (usually their first and second choices) between two or more candidates for an office, so that if no candidate receives a majority of first choices the one receiving the greatest number of first and second choices together in nominated or elected. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
n.
Natural preferment of the one . . . before the other. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]
Neither royal blandishments nor promises of valuable preferment had been spared. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One who prefers. [ 1913 Webster ]