Definition of FAVOR

favor

Meanings

Plural: favors

Noun

  • an act of gracious kindness
  • an advantage to the benefit of someone or something
    • "the outcome was in his favor"
  • an inclination to approve
    • "that style is in favor this season"
  • a feeling of favorable regard
  • souvenir consisting of a small gift given to a guest at a party
  • A kind or helpful deed; an instance of voluntarily assisting (someone).
  • Goodwill; benevolent regard.
  • A small gift; a party favor.
  • Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.
  • The object of regard; person or thing favoured.
  • Appearance; look; countenance; face.
  • Partiality; bias
  • A letter, a written communication.
  • a resemblance, likeness
  • Anything worn publicly as a pledge of a woman's favor.
  • A ribbon or similar small item that is worn as an adornment, especially in celebration of an event.

Verb

  • promote over another
    • "he favors his second daughter"
  • consider as the favorite
    • "The local team was favored"
  • treat gently or carefully
  • bestow a privilege upon
  • To look upon fondly; to prefer.
  • To use more often.
  • To encourage, conduce to
  • To do a favor [noun sense 1] for; to show beneficence toward.
  • To resemble; especially, to look like (another person).

Origin / 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

abet, aid, assist, endorse, favoritize, favour, favourite, help, lending a hand, party favor, party favour, prefer, privilege, sanction, token

Scrabble Score: 11

favor is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
favor is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
favor is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

favor is a valid Words With Friends word