Pre-fĕr', v. t.
[imp. & p. p. PREFERRED; p. pr. & vb. n. PREFERRING.] [Lat. præferre, from præ, before, and ferre, to bear or carry; Fr. préférer, Pr. & Sp. préférir, It. preferire.]
Sense 1. To set forth; to offer; to present; to address; —said especially of a request, prayer, or the like; and sometimes followed by above, before, or to.
Their tongues prefer strange orisons on high. Byron.
Sense 2. To set forward; to move on; to advance, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; as, to prefer one to a bishopric; to prefer an officer to the rank of general.
I would prefer him to a better place. Shak.
Sense 3. To set above something else in estimation, choice, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to incline more toward; to choose; —often followed by to, before, or above.
Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all temples the upright heart! Milton.
Sense 4. To proffer. [Rare.]
He spake, and to her hand preferred the bowl. Pope.
Preferred stock, stock which takes a dividend before other capital stock; —called, in England, preferential stock. Simmonds.
Synonyms—To choose; elect; select. See CHOOSE.