## Meanings
1. To like one thing or person more than another.
2. To choose one option over another.
3. To formally bring forward an accusation against someone.

## Examples
- I prefer tea to coffee.
- She would prefer to walk rather than take the bus.
- The police decided to prefer charges against the suspect.

## Derived Forms
- preferability
- preferee
- preferist

## Related Forms
- nonpreferred
- preferable
- preference
- preferendum
- preferential
- preferer
- preferment
- preferrable
- preferrer
- prelate
- unpreferred

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰer-
- Root: preferren
- Root: preferer
- Root: praeferō

## Etymology
From Middle English preferren, from Anglo-Norman preferer, from Latin praeferō. Displaced native Old English foresettan and foreberan. Doublet of prelate. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others.

## AI Etymology
Prefer comes from Middle English preferren, from Anglo-Norman preferer, from Latin praeferō. Displaced native Old English foresettan and foreberan. Doublet of prelate. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others. In present-day English it covers to like one thing or person more than another, to choose one option over another, and to formally bring forward an accusation against someone. The wider family includes derived forms such as preferability, preferee, preferist and related forms such as nonpreferred, preferable, preference, preferendum.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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