favour

[ fey-ver ]

/ ˈfeɪ vər /

noun, verb (used with object) Chiefly British.

favor.

usage note for favour

See -or¹.

Words nearby favour

favored, favorite, favorite son, favoritism, favosite, favour, favourable, favourable pressure gradient, favourite, favouritism, favours

Definition for favours (2 of 2)

favor

[ fey-ver ]

/ ˈfeɪ vər /

noun

something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration; a kind act: to ask a favor.

friendly or well-disposed regard; goodwill: to win the favor of the king.

the state of being approved or held in regard: to be in favor at court; styles that are now in favor.

excessive kindness or unfair partiality; preferential treatment: to treat some people with favor and others with neglect.

a gift bestowed as a token of goodwill, kind regard, love, etc., as formerly upon a knight by his lady.

a ribbon, badge, etc., worn in evidence of goodwill or loyalty, as by an adherent of a political party.

a small gift or decorative or festive item, as a noisemaker or paper hat, often distributed to guests at a party.

Usually favors. sexual intimacy, especially as permitted by a woman.

Archaic. a letter, especially a commercial one.

verb (used with object)

to regard with favor: to favor an enterprise.

to prefer; treat with partiality: The father favored his younger son.

to show favor to; oblige: The king favored him with an audience.

to be favorable to; facilitate: The wind favored their journey.

to deal with, treat, or use gently: to favor a lame leg.

to aid or support: He favored his party's cause with ample funds.

to bear a physical resemblance to; resemble: to favor one's father's side of the family.

Also especially British, fa·vour.

Origin of favor

1250–1300; Middle English favo(u)r < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin favōr- (stem of favor) goodwill, equivalent to fav(ēre) to be favorably inclined + -ōr- -or¹

SYNONYMS FOR favor

2 Favor, goodwill imply a kindly regard or friendly disposition shown by an individual or group. Favor may be merely an attitude of mind: to look with favor on a proposal. Goodwill is more active and leads often to outward manifestations of friendly approval: By frequent applause the audience showed its goodwill toward the speaker.

5 present.

10 approve, countenance, sanction.

12 encourage, patronize.

15 help, assist.

ANTONYMS FOR favor

2 animosity, malice.

10 disapprove.

OTHER WORDS FROM favor

fa·vor·er, noun o·ver·fa·vor, verb (used with object) pre·fa·vor, noun, verb (used with object) un·fa·vor·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for favours

In fact, what he favours, very clearly and publicly, is a bi-national state.

Hebrew U Prof: Ahmad Tibi is a Radical, Wants Israel to be a Bi-National State |Alexander Yakobson |September 9, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Bits of turfy green, cropped close by hippo, which favours this fine reach of river, distinguish the banks near this locality.

In Darkest Africa, Vol. 2; or, The quest, rescue and retreat of Emin, governor of Equatoria |Henry Morton Stanley
The great city is notoriously fickle and wayward in her favours.

Highways and Byways in London |Mrs. E. T. Cook.
This spoliation commences with the graces, gifts, and favours of conscious love.

Spiritual Torrents |Jeanne Marie Bouvires de la Mot Guyon

Suffer me to offer you my gratitude for the favours you have hitherto bestowed on me, and to bid you farewell forever.

Devereux, Complete |Edward Bulwer-Lytton
This is suggestive of the nasty definition of gratitude that it is a keen sense of favours to come!

Juliana Horatia Ewing And Her Books |Horatia K. F. Eden

British Dictionary definitions for favours (1 of 2)

favours

US favors

/ (ˈfeɪvəz) /

pl n

sexual intimacy, as when consented to by a woman

British Dictionary definitions for favours (2 of 2)

favour

US favor

/ (ˈfeɪvə) /

noun

an approving attitude; good will

an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy

prejudice and partiality; favouritism

a condition of being regarded with approval or good will (esp in the phrases in favour, out of favour)

archaic leave; permission

a token of love, goodwill, etc

a small gift or toy given to a guest at a party

history a badge or ribbon worn or given to indicate loyalty, often bestowed on a knight by a lady

obsolete, mainly British a communication, esp a business letter

archaic appearance

find favour with to be approved of by someone

in favour of

approving
to the benefit of
(of a cheque, etc) made out to
in order to show preference forI rejected him in favour of George

verb (tr)

to regard with especial kindness or approval

to treat with partiality or favouritism

to support; advocate

to perform a favour for; oblige

to help; facilitate

informal to resemble he favours his father

to wear habitually she favours red

to treat gingerly or with tenderness; spare a footballer favouring an injured leg

Derived forms of favour

favourer or US favorer, noun favouringly or US favoringly, adverb

Word Origin for favour

C14: from Latin, from favēre to protect

Idioms and Phrases with favours

favor

see curry favor; in favor of; in favor with; in one's favor; out of favor; return the compliment (favor).

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

favour

noun, verb (used with object) Chiefly British.

usage note for favour

Words nearby favour

Definition for favours (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of favor

SYNONYMS FOR favor

ANTONYMS FOR favor

OTHER WORDS FROM favor

Example sentences from the Web for favours

British Dictionary definitions for favours (1 of 2)

US favors

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for favours (2 of 2)

US favor

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of favour

Word Origin for favour

Idioms and Phrases with favours