preference
/ˈpɹefəəns/PREH-fur-uhns
/ˈpɹɛfɚəns/PREH-fur-uhns
Meaningthe act of carrying before
Common meaning: a liking for one thing over others
- prebeforeSkeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), p. 463 · scan
- ferto bear, bringLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 737 · scan
- encenoun ending: doing, or the condition that results
‘before’ + ‘to bear, bring’ → preference
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Formed in English from prefer + -ence.
Dictionary: Skeat (1898), PREFER, p.463 · scan
Roots
- ferō, tulī, lātum Latin “to bear, bring”
- preferre Latin “to carry in front”
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