favor

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an advantage to the benefit of someone or something

   The outcome was in your favor.

2. 2
   noun

   an inclination to approve

   that style is in favor this season

3. 3
   verb

   consider as the favorite

   The local team was favored

4. 4
   verb

   promote over another

   They favor their second daughter.

5. 5
   noun

   A kind or helpful deed; an instance of voluntarily assisting (someone).

   He did me a favor when he took the time to drive me home.

6. 6
   noun

   Goodwill; benevolent regard.

   She enjoyed the queen's favor.

7. 7
   noun

   A small gift; a party favor.

   wedding favor

8. 8
   noun

   Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.

   I could not discover the lenity and favour of this sentence.

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.