favourite
English
editAlternative forms
edit- (American English) favorite
Etymology
editAttested from the 1580s, borrowed from Middle French favorit, from Old French favorit or Italian favorito (“favoured, favourite”), past participle of Italian favorire (“to favor”), from favore, from Latin favor (“good will, favor”), from the verb faveō (“I favour”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂weh₁yeti (“to be favourable to”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to shine, glow light”). Doublet of favori.
Pronunciation
editAdjective
editfavourite (British, Ireland, Commonwealth)
- Preferred or liked above all others (unless qualified).
- Antonyms: least favorite, unfavourite, unfavorite
- This is my second favourite occupation.
- Belonging to a category whose members are all preferred or liked over nonmembers.
- I just saw a movie with all my favourite actors in it.
Translations
editpreferred
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Noun
editfavourite (plural favourites) (British, Ireland, Commonwealth)
- A person or thing who enjoys special regard or favour.
- The teacher's favourite always went first.
- Antonyms: unfavourite, unfavorite
- A person who is preferred or trusted above all others.
- A contestant or competitor thought most likely to win.
- You were my favourite to win the spelling competition.
- She's the favourite, she'll probably be elected.
- (Internet) A bookmark in a web browser.
- (in the plural) A short curl dangling over the temples, fashionable in the reign of Charles II.
- 1701, George Farquhar, Sir Harry Wildair:
- the Favourites hang loose upon the Temples with a languishing Lock in the middle
Derived terms
editRelated terms
editTranslations
editperson who enjoys special regard or favour
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person who is preferred or trusted above all others
contestant or competitor thought most likely to win
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Verb
editfavourite (third-person singular simple present favourites, present participle favouriting, simple past and past participle favourited) (British, Ireland, Commonwealth)
- To favour.
- (Internet) To bookmark.
- (Internet) To add to one's list of favourite items on a website that allows users to compile such lists.
- Antonyms: unfavourite, unfavorite
Derived terms
editTranslations
editto add to favourites
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