preferv.

Brit.

/prᵻˈfəː/, U.S.

/priˈfər/,

/prəˈfər/

Inflections: Present participle preferring; past tense and past participle preferred;

Forms: Middle English prefere, Middle English profere, Middle English–1500s proferre, Middle English 1600s preferr, Middle English–1600s preferre, Middle English– prefer, 1500s prefar, 1500s prefare, 1500s prefarr, 1500s prefarre, 1500s prephar, 1500s prepharre, 1500s–1600s praefer; Scottish pre-1700 praefer, pre-1700 praeferre, pre-1700 prefar, pre-1700 prefarre, pre-1700 prefere, pre-1700 preferr, pre-1700 preferre, pre-1700 preffer, pre-1700 proffer, pre-1700 1700s– prefer. N.E.D.(1907) also records a form late Middle English prefarr.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French preferer.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Middle French preferer (French préférer ) to place before or in front, to favour, to like better (c1355; also 1330 as proferer ), to prevail, have the pre-eminence (15th cent.) < classical Latin praeferre to carry in front, to put forward, to advance, to exalt, to esteem more highly, regard as more desirable, like better, to present, submit < prae- pre- prefix + ferre to bear (see bear v.¹). Compare Old Occitan preferir (1472; Occitan preferir), Catalan preferir (1494), Spanish preferir (1293), Portuguese preferir (16th cent.), Italian preferire (14th cent.).

I. To advance or elevate in status or rank.

a. transitive. To advance (a person) in status, rank, etc.; to promote to a more senior or prestigious, now esp. ecclesiastical, position. Now somewhat archaic.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [verb (transitive)] > raise in prosperity, power, or rank > advance or promote (a person) > to some status

prefera1393

promote1402

promovec1425

represent1435

move1556

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 2824 Thei that wolden stonde upriht For trouthe only to do justice Preferred were in thilke office.

1429 Rolls of Parl. IV. 343/2 In Benefices and Offices..when thai voiden, thoo that hath ben Servauntz to..the Kyng that nowe is shal be preferred therto.

1443 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1855) II. 89 (MED) If..any of thame be preferred be mariage, office, or benefice to ye valewe of x li., than yai to cese of the saide rentcharge.

a1450 (a1397) Prol. Old Test. (Harl. 1666) in Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (1850) 50 In this degre..he neither preferrith neither makith euene himself..with the treuthe of hooly writ.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 148 I shall so proferre you, by the grace of God, that ye shall in shorte tyme be in ease.

1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Ri Se how our lorde preferred & promoted the greate synner to the hyer dignitie.

1564 W. Bullein Dialogue against Fever Pestilence f. 50^v If any man bee prepharred by an other man, and made riche.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 259 Soluathie..is to the kingdome preferit, elected, and crouned.

1607 T. Middleton Michaelmas Terme ii. sig. C3 Being now happilye preferr'd to a Gentlemans seruice in London.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 288 Scholars [of Eton] instructed in Grammar, and in due time preferred to the Universitie of Cambridge.

a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Chesh. 177 (After some intermediate Dignities) he was preferred Chief Baron of the Exchequer.

1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 4. ⁋8 Happy..that he never preferred a Man who has not proved remarkably serviceable to his Country.

1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. i. ii. 8 Joey was now preferred from the Stable to attend on his Lady.

1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella I. i. iii. 102 [Ferdinand] promised faithfully..to prefer no foreigners to municipal offices.

1878 R. Simpson School of Shakspere I. 55 To the disgust of the soldiers..he was preferred to what hitherto had always been a soldier's post.

1931 T. F. Powys Unclay ii. 7 Canon Dibben, had been preferred..to the town of Stonebridge.

2001 C. S. Clegg Press Censorship in Jacobean Eng. vi. 200 In 1628 Mountagu was preferred to the see of Chichester.

†b. transitive (reflexive). To advance oneself or further one's interests or career; to set oneself up as superior to. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > further one's own interests [verb (reflexive)]

prefer?a1439

the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > advance or progress [verb (reflexive)] > advance one's own interests

advance1340

prefer?a1439

a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iv. 404 (MED) Marchus wolde hymsilff preferre Aboue that prynce in worshepe and honour.

c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 240 Be subiecte to þi souereyn, & preferre þe noȝt aboue þi peerys... Be subiecte to þi perys, & prefere þe noȝt aboue þi subiectys... Be subiecte to þi subiecte, & preferre þe to no persone.

a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 134 (MED) Ther shall non off his tenantes aliene livelod with owt is licence, wheryn he mey best preferre hym selff.

a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 4 (MED) Wherto wolt þou preferre þiself before eny oþer, siþ many oþer are founden better lerned & more wise in þe lawe of god þan þou?

1592 T. Tymme Plaine Discouerie Ten Eng. Lepers D iij The buyer having an ambicious intent to prefer himselfe thereby.

1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 50 If hee be..a man of endeavours, and willing to preferre himselfe by service, I wish him to Historie.

†c. transitive. In passive. To be dignified with or made eminent by a quality. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1449 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 769 (MED) Som man is strong, berys for to bynde, Anothir feeble, preferryd with prudence.

c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 827 (MED) Kynges, princis, most souerayne of renoun..Nor the prophetes preferred by science Were nat fraunchised to make resistence.

†d. transitive. To advance (a person) to a particular position or status in life; spec. to settle in marriage. Cf. preferment n. 4. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [verb (transitive)] > raise in prosperity, power, or rank > advance or promote (a person)

advancec1300

vaunce1303

before-seta1382

profera1400

promote1402

prefer1548

engrace1610

to kick (someone) upstairs1678

rocket1931

up1945

fast-track1977

society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (transitive)] > settle in marriage

prefer1548

settle1573

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. ix^v A goodly gentil man and a valiante capitain, and somuche fauored of his louyng father, that he to preferre hym to the mariage of the Quene dowager of Nauerne.

1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Gloucester ix And after in mariage I was prefarde To a daughter of Bohan an earle honorable.

1565–6 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages Diocese Chester (1897) 136 To geve and bequethe vnto my Children, beinge not Maried, and not otherwise Competentlie preferred.

1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 124 After [being] preferred to a good marriage by his Lorde.

a1686 A. Martindale Life (1845) i. §6 If she had a mind to be married, my father was then in a good ordinary capacity to preferre her.

1714 Act for confirming Settlement made on Marriage of Lord Viscount Massereene 3 If they should not be preferred in Marriage in the Life-time of the said Clotworthy..then to Pay to each of them so Unmarried One Hundred Pounds per Annum, till she be Married.

1800 S. Rose Comyns's Digest Laws Eng. (ed. 4) 8 If there should be no sons of his marriage, to provide for daughters, by profits, mortgage or sale; with proviso, that if father preferred them in marriage with portions equivalent, [etc.].

†2. transitive. To help forward or promote (a result); to assist in bringing about. Obsolete (rare after 17th cent.).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > furtherance > further [verb (transitive)]

furtherc888

to bring onc1230

advancea1250

speeda1300

nourishc1300

avaunt1393

promotec1433

pasture?a1439

advantage?1459

promove1475

preferc1503

conduce1518

to set forth1528

to set forward(s)1530

to take forth1530

fillip1551

help1559

farther1570

foster1571

shoulder1577

to put forward1579

seconda1586

foment1596

hearten1598

to put on1604

fomentate1613

succeed1613

expeditea1618

producea1618

maturate1623

cultivate1641

encourage1677

push1693

forward1780

progress1780

admove1839

c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. Cxi/2 Euery trew counceler..ought..to..promote encrece proferre and auaunce the wele and prosperyte of his lorde.

?1574 W. Bourne Regiment for Sea xxi. sig. P.ij That effect is most preferred if the Dragons head be in the beginning of the signe of Aries.

1590 L. Lloyd First Pt. Diall of Daies 134 To prosper the corne and the cattell, and to preferre the fruites of the fields.

1600–12 S. Rowlands Four Knaves (Percy Soc.) 50 Thus fingring money to preferre the case.

?1623 O. Felltham Resolues xlvii. 150 A little shaking prefers the growth of the tree.

1838 C. Dickens Let. 9 Nov. (1965) I. 451 With equal confidence in you I have lost no time in preferring it [sc. the enquiry].

†3. transitive. To promote, advance, raise up, exalt (a thing). Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1532 C. St. German Treat. Div. Spirytualtie & Temporaltie ii. vii. f. 20 It wyll be harde to fynde any one spyrytuall man, that is nat enfecte with the sayd desyre and affection to haue the worldely honoure of prestes exalted and preferred.

1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 117^v Alexander..pardoned his boldenesse, and preferred his arte.

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §439 All Grasiers preferre their Cattel from meaner Pastures to better.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 114 Ev'n though a snowy Ram thou shalt behold, Prefer him not in haste, for Husband to thy Fold.

1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. v. xxxiii. 339 Birds, Beasts, or Fishes; which upon their death are preferred into Humane Bodies.

1817 S. T. Coleridge Biogr. Lit. (1882) 81 The work was..preferred from the ominous cellar of the publishers to the author's garret.

II. To favour.

4. transitive. To favour (one person or thing) in preference or to another; to like better. Also: to choose rather, tend to choose (with infinitive or that-clause as object). Frequently with adverbial phrase stating explicit comparison. Also intransitive.Now the usual sense.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choose in specific way [verb (transitive)] > choose in preference to others

have1340

prefera1393

to have rather1478

fain1483

prelect1620

dextralize1651

antepone1656

savour1714

preference1904

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 1806 (MED) Whan that knythode schal be werred, Lust mai noght thanne be preferred.

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 158 (MED) To a prince longeþ nyȝe and ferre Ay to-fore ryȝt, pite to preferre.

a1449 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 777 (MED) Trewe iuges and sergeauntis of the lawe..Mercy preferre alwey to-for rigour.

?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1872) IV. 37 (MED) Thawȝe þer were men that did translate owte of Hebrewe in to Grewe in the Newe Testamente..ȝitte the lxxti interpretatores be preferrede afore [a1387 J. Trevisa tr. i-sette to fore; L. præferuntur] theyme.

?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) iii. lviii. 248 Afore all worldly thynges prefarre thou the honour & medytacion of god.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 5 Hyt ys not to be preferryd therto as a thyng rather to be chosen & folowyd.

1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. Prol. f. 2 I preferre deidis of mercy abone all corporal and outwart sacrifice.

1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 7 I praefer Tulli before Caesar in writing Latin; do I therefore disable or disalow Caesar?

1610 A. Willet Hexapla in Danielem 195 The henne..contemneth a pearle, and preferreth a barley curnell.

1661 R. Boyle Some Consider. Style of Script. (1675) 165 He should not scruple to prefer the end to the means.

1680 R. Morden Geogr. Rectified (1685) 322 We may justly prefer it before the other parts of the World.

1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Apple A List of such Apples as are preferr'd for Kitchen Use..Monstrous Reinette.

1778 Hist. Eliza Warwick I. 25 He would prefer seeing his daughters dead at his feet, than behold them wedded to the worthiest men without titles and riches.

1815 J. W. Croker in L. J. Jennings Croker Papers (1884) I. 69 He preferred living like a Grecian, to dying like a Roman.

1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxxi. 386 Not that they prefer rum.

1845 R. Browning Laboratory in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics vii Let her turn it and stir, And try it and taste, ere she fix and prefer!

1882 J. A. Froude in Fortn. Rev. Dec. 734 Warlike races prefer to be under a chief.

1902 Edinb. Rev. Apr. 512 He prefers rather than excludes.

1940 Punch 6 May (Summer No.) (caption) Please don't hesitate to say if you prefer your coffee white.

1992 N.Y. Times Mag. 6 Sept. 8/3 An electorate that prefers style over substance, image over issues and somnambulism to scrutiny.

†5. transitive. Chiefly Scottish. To take precedence over; to surpass, excel. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being better or superior > [verb (transitive)]

to go before ——OE

overlightlOE

preferc1395

precede1485

precess1529

to take the wall (of a person)?1562

outshine1605

to have the place1659

to take the road of1670

rank1841

the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > outdo or surpass [verb (transitive)]

overstyeOE

overshinec1175

overgoc1225

passc1225

surmountc1369

forpassc1374

overmatcha1375

overpassa1382

to pass overa1393

overcomec1400

outpass?a1425

exceedc1425

precedec1425

superexcelc1429

transcendc1430

precel?a1439

outcut1447

overgrowc1475

to come over ——a1479

excel1493

overleapa1500

vanquish1533

outweigh1534

prevent1540

better1548

preferc1550

outgo1553

surpassa1555

exsuperate1559

cote1566

overtop1567

outrun1575

outstrip1579

outsail1580

overruna1586

pre-excel1587

outbid1589

outbrave1589

out-cote1589

top1590

outmatch1593

outvie1594

superate1595

surbravec1600

oversile1608

over-height1611

overstride1614

outdoa1616

outlustrea1616

outpeera1616

outstrikea1616

outrival1622

antecede1624

out-top1624

antecell1625

out-pitch1627

over-merit1629

outblazea1634

surmatch1636

overdoa1640

overact1643

outact1644

worst1646

overspana1657

outsoar1674

outdazzle1691

to cut down1713

ding1724

to cut out1738

cap1821

by-pass1848

overtower1850

pretergress1851

outray1876

outreach1879

cut1884

outperform1937

outrate1955

one-up1963

c1395 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale 96 I graunte it wel I haue noon enuye, Thogh maydenhede preferre [v.rr. prefer, profere; precelle] bigamye.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) 99 I will weill otheris can say mair curyusly Bot I haue said eftir my fantasy, I covait nocht to prefer ony wight.

c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 34 Sen the varld vas creat scheiphirdis prefferrit al vthir staitis.

1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour 871 Because all vther he did prefer, Namit he wes brycht Lucefer.

6. transitive. Law and Finance. To give priority to (one creditor or debt owed) over another. Cf. preferred adj. 4.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > claim at law > [verb (transitive)] > give priority to

prefer1429

1429 Will in Trans. Essex Archæol. Soc. (1895) 5 306 (MED) I wol that yif any of myn executours..wol bye any thing of my houshold, that they be preferred to bye, so yat they yeue as mnche [read muche] therefore as other wullen.

1433 Rolls of Parl. IV. 432/1 Yat, in paiement..y preferre youre Houshold, youre Wardrobe, and your necessarie Werkes.

a1443 Chancery Proc. Ser. C1 File 9 No. 128 (MED) So þat in þat sale þe said Suppliaunt shuld be preferred a fore eny oþer man.

a1500 ( in C. Monro Lett. Margaret of Anjou (1863) 40 (MED) It is harde for me to preferre thos payments withouten importable maugre on other parties.

1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo i. xxx. 170 Aboue all things money lent for victualls to the ships company should be payed and preferred before all other debts.

1701 J. Godolphin Orphan's Legacy (ed. 4) ii. 216 Neither is it in the election of the Executor to prefer any other Debt due to any Subject.

1767 R. Burn Eccl. Law (ed. 2) IV. 247 One executor or administrator may not prefer his own debt, before the debt of another executor or administrator, being in equal degree.

1818 N. Amer. Rev. May 32 By our present laws a debtor has a perfect right to prefer any one creditor to the utter neglect of the rest.

1901 Times 4 July 7/1 The administrator had in his hands a sum of money for which he was accountable, leaving the question open whether he had still a right to prefer the debt of the bank.

1920 Times 23 Nov. 5/3 If he took a grant as a creditor he would require special power to prefer his own debt.

1934 Yale Law Jrnl. 45 584 The lessor of a non-assignable lease..was held to have an absolute right to intervene in receivership proceedings, because the receiver had sold the lease and, furthermore, had made no provision for preferring the debt incurred by maintenance.

III. To present, submit.

7. transitive. To present or submit (a bill, charge, piece of information, etc.) to someone, esp. an authority, for consideration or approval. Now chiefly in to prefer charges. Formerly also with †up.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > suggestion, proposal > suggest [verb (transitive)] > for consideration

puta1350

purposea1382

propone1402

motion1505

exhibit1529

propound?1531

prefer1539

raise1566

to put forward1569

broach1579

start1579

offer1583

propose1614

first1628

to put it to a person1664

moot1685

suppose1771

pose1862

to put up1901

1539 J. Gough tr. J. Le Maire Abbreuyacyon Gen. Councellys sig. Eviii^v In this artycle y^e kyng Charles the seuenth prefered his decrees and actes of Pracmatica, Sanxio [Fr. publia et decreta la Pragmatique sanction].

1559 Bp. Scot in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1709) I. App. vii. 12 The contents of all the bills preferred and read here.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. clxij The Marques intrateth kyng Ferdinando, that he would immediatly preferre this matter to the Emperoure.

1601 J. Weever Mirror of Martyrs sig. Dij^v That I preferd up Bills in Parliament, Whereto the King and Lords gaue all consent.

a1674 Earl of Clarendon Brief View Leviathan (1676) 103 Suppose that an Information were preferr'd in the Kings Bench..against Mr. Hobbes.

1704 Boston News-let. 12 June 2/1 Capt. Quelch preferr'd a Petition to His Excellency and Honourable Court.

1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 120 The consequence of a suit preferred by him to the ecclesiastic Court.

1813 J. Hogg Queen's Wake Introd. 20 But many a bard preferred his prayer; For many a Scottish bard was there.

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple III. xxiv. 315 A superior is equally bound to prefer a charge, or to give notice that that charge will be preferred..instead of lulling the offender into security.

1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam c. 155 These two have striven half the day, And each prefers his separate claim, Poor rivals in a losing game.

1884 Ld. Coleridge in Law Times Rep. 50 277/1 Preferring an indictment against her for stealing his goods.

1914 Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.) 14 Jan. 10/5 The charge you prefer against the ‘Red Feds’.

1969 M. Puzo Godfather i. x. 129 Do you want to prefer charges against whoever did this to you?

1988 B. Cooper Alexander Kennedy Isbister i. iv. 96 Charges of illegal trafficking in furs were duly preferred against Pierre Guillaume Sayer.

†8. transitive. To put or set in front or before. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > front > be in front of [verb (transitive)] > place in front (of)

foresetc825

to lay … beforec1000

again-puta1425

again-seta1425

preponea1513

prefer?1541

prepose?1541

prefix1604

prefacea1658

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > endanger [verb (transitive)] > expose to danger, harm, etc.

expose1474

object?1520

prefer?1541

expone1564

oppose1589

?1541 R. Copland Maner to Examyne Lazares in Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens sig. Rj^v Do nat as a folysshe iudge that forthwith gyueth his sentence, but fyrste or thou gyue it preferre [Fr. prefere] God before thyne eyes, and consydre dylygently [etc.].

1575 G. Fenton Golden Epist. f. 60 He Wroat speedelye to Joab..that at the time of the assault, Vrias might be preferred to the perill of his lyfe.

†9. transitive. To present for acceptance, proffer; to introduce, recommend. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > giving > offer or action of offering > offer [verb (transitive)]

i-bedea800

bidOE

make?a1160

forthc1200

bihedec1275

proffera1325

yielda1382

dressc1384

to serve fortha1393

dight1393

pretend1398

nurnc1400

offerc1425

profita1450

tent1459

tend1475

exhibit1490

propine1512

presentc1515

oblate1548

pretence1548

defer?1551

to hold forth1560

prefer1567

delatea1575

to give forth1584

tender1587

oppose1598

to hold out1611

shore1787

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > recommendation > recommend [verb (transitive)]

commendc1400

recommise1427

recommendc1460

recommit?1521

prefer1567

wish1612

value1670

moyen1897

1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. x. f. 214 Whyche kynde of courtyng thamarus Luchyn forgatt not too prefer as a testey of hys seruice.

1624 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 2) ii. ii. iii. 222 Bessardus Bisantinus preferres the smoake of Iuniper to melancholy persons.

1646 R. Crashaw Musicks Duell in Steps to Temple 105 Preferre soft Anthems to the Eares of men.

1653 R. Codrington Ep. Ded. in L. Lloyd Marrow of Hist. A3 I have here preferred to your observance and protection, a work of great Art, and of greater Industry.

1677 J. Evelyn Mem. 13 Sept. I preferred Mr. Philips [sc. the nephew of Milton] to the service of my Lord Chamberlaine, who wanted a scholar to read to and entertain him sometimes.

1709 A. Pope Summer in Poet. Misc.: 6th Pt. vi. 734 Each am'rous Nymph prefers her Gifts in vain.

1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey I. iii. 64 He spake, and to her hand preferr'd the bowl.

1867 C. B. Cayley in Fortn. Rev. Nov. 591 Seeking what words can avail me, What numbers even, to prefer clear light to thy aspect [L. præpandere lumina menti].

†10. transitive. To refer; to attribute, ascribe. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > causation > attribution or assignment of cause > assign to a cause [verb (transitive)]

titleOE

aretc1340

witena1375

witnea1375

reta1382

depute1382

wite1382

seta1387

layc1425

expoundc1430

imputec1480

attribue1481

assign1489

reckon1526

attribute1530

count1535

allot?1556

draw1578

object1613

prefer1628

entitle1629

implya1641

to score (something) on1645

intitule1651

put1722

to put down1723

charge1737

own1740

place1802

to set down1822

affiliate1823

1628 G. Wither Britain's Remembrancer Concl. 35 The building of a Towne we doe preferre Unto the Mason and the Carpenter.

a1657 W. Burton Comm. Antoninus his Itinerary (1658) 26 Jerome Surita..prefers this work to Antoninus the son of Severus.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	prefer
释义	preferv. Brit. /prᵻˈfəː/, U.S. /priˈfər/, /prəˈfər/ Inflections: Present participle preferring; past tense and past participle preferred; Forms: Middle English prefere, Middle English profere, Middle English–1500s proferre, Middle English 1600s preferr, Middle English–1600s preferre, Middle English– prefer, 1500s prefar, 1500s prefare, 1500s prefarr, 1500s prefarre, 1500s prephar, 1500s prepharre, 1500s–1600s praefer; Scottish pre-1700 praefer, pre-1700 praeferre, pre-1700 prefar, pre-1700 prefarre, pre-1700 prefere, pre-1700 preferr, pre-1700 preferre, pre-1700 preffer, pre-1700 proffer, pre-1700 1700s– prefer. N.E.D.(1907) also records a form late Middle English prefarr. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French preferer. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Middle French preferer (French préférer ) to place before or in front, to favour, to like better (c1355; also 1330 as proferer ), to prevail, have the pre-eminence (15th cent.) < classical Latin praeferre to carry in front, to put forward, to advance, to exalt, to esteem more highly, regard as more desirable, like better, to present, submit < prae- pre- prefix + ferre to bear (see bear v.¹). Compare Old Occitan preferir (1472; Occitan preferir), Catalan preferir (1494), Spanish preferir (1293), Portuguese preferir (16th cent.), Italian preferire (14th cent.). I. To advance or elevate in status or rank. 1. a. transitive. To advance (a person) in status, rank, etc.; to promote to a more senior or prestigious, now esp. ecclesiastical, position. Now somewhat archaic. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [verb (transitive)] > raise in prosperity, power, or rank > advance or promote (a person) > to some status prefera1393 promote1402 promovec1425 represent1435 move1556 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 2824 Thei that wolden stonde upriht For trouthe only to do justice Preferred were in thilke office. 1429 Rolls of Parl. IV. 343/2 In Benefices and Offices..when thai voiden, thoo that hath ben Servauntz to..the Kyng that nowe is shal be preferred therto. 1443 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1855) II. 89 (MED) If..any of thame be preferred be mariage, office, or benefice to ye valewe of x li., than yai to cese of the saide rentcharge. a1450 (a1397) Prol. Old Test. (Harl. 1666) in Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (1850) 50 In this degre..he neither preferrith neither makith euene himself..with the treuthe of hooly writ. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 148 I shall so proferre you, by the grace of God, that ye shall in shorte tyme be in ease. 1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Ri Se how our lorde preferred & promoted the greate synner to the hyer dignitie. 1564 W. Bullein Dialogue against Fever Pestilence f. 50^v If any man bee prepharred by an other man, and made riche. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 259 Soluathie..is to the kingdome preferit, elected, and crouned. 1607 T. Middleton Michaelmas Terme ii. sig. C3 Being now happilye preferr'd to a Gentlemans seruice in London. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 288 Scholars [of Eton] instructed in Grammar, and in due time preferred to the Universitie of Cambridge. a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Chesh. 177 (After some intermediate Dignities) he was preferred Chief Baron of the Exchequer. 1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 4. ⁋8 Happy..that he never preferred a Man who has not proved remarkably serviceable to his Country. 1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. i. ii. 8 Joey was now preferred from the Stable to attend on his Lady. View more context for this quotation 1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella I. i. iii. 102 [Ferdinand] promised faithfully..to prefer no foreigners to municipal offices. 1878 R. Simpson School of Shakspere I. 55 To the disgust of the soldiers..he was preferred to what hitherto had always been a soldier's post. 1931 T. F. Powys Unclay ii. 7 Canon Dibben, had been preferred..to the town of Stonebridge. 2001 C. S. Clegg Press Censorship in Jacobean Eng. vi. 200 In 1628 Mountagu was preferred to the see of Chichester. †b. transitive (reflexive). To advance oneself or further one's interests or career; to set oneself up as superior to. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > promotion or help forward > further one's own interests [verb (reflexive)] prefer?a1439 the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > advance or progress [verb (reflexive)] > advance one's own interests advance1340 prefer?a1439 a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) iv. 404 (MED) Marchus wolde hymsilff preferre Aboue that prynce in worshepe and honour. c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 240 Be subiecte to þi souereyn, & preferre þe noȝt aboue þi peerys... Be subiecte to þi perys, & prefere þe noȝt aboue þi subiectys... Be subiecte to þi subiecte, & preferre þe to no persone. a1475 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (Laud) (1885) 134 (MED) Ther shall non off his tenantes aliene livelod with owt is licence, wheryn he mey best preferre hym selff. a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 4 (MED) Wherto wolt þou preferre þiself before eny oþer, siþ many oþer are founden better lerned & more wise in þe lawe of god þan þou? 1592 T. Tymme Plaine Discouerie Ten Eng. Lepers D iij The buyer having an ambicious intent to prefer himselfe thereby. 1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 50 If hee be..a man of endeavours, and willing to preferre himselfe by service, I wish him to Historie. †c. transitive. In passive. To be dignified with or made eminent by a quality. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1449 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 769 (MED) Som man is strong, berys for to bynde, Anothir feeble, preferryd with prudence. c1475 (a1449) J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 827 (MED) Kynges, princis, most souerayne of renoun..Nor the prophetes preferred by science Were nat fraunchised to make resistence. †d. transitive. To advance (a person) to a particular position or status in life; spec. to settle in marriage. Cf. preferment n. 4. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [verb (transitive)] > raise in prosperity, power, or rank > advance or promote (a person) advancec1300 vaunce1303 before-seta1382 profera1400 promote1402 prefer1548 engrace1610 to kick (someone) upstairs1678 rocket1931 up1945 fast-track1977 society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (transitive)] > settle in marriage prefer1548 settle1573 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. ix^v A goodly gentil man and a valiante capitain, and somuche fauored of his louyng father, that he to preferre hym to the mariage of the Quene dowager of Nauerne. 1559 W. Baldwin et al. Myrroure for Magistrates Gloucester ix And after in mariage I was prefarde To a daughter of Bohan an earle honorable. 1565–6 in F. J. Furnivall Child-marriages Diocese Chester (1897) 136 To geve and bequethe vnto my Children, beinge not Maried, and not otherwise Competentlie preferred. 1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 124 After [being] preferred to a good marriage by his Lorde. a1686 A. Martindale Life (1845) i. §6 If she had a mind to be married, my father was then in a good ordinary capacity to preferre her. 1714 Act for confirming Settlement made on Marriage of Lord Viscount Massereene 3 If they should not be preferred in Marriage in the Life-time of the said Clotworthy..then to Pay to each of them so Unmarried One Hundred Pounds per Annum, till she be Married. 1800 S. Rose Comyns's Digest Laws Eng. (ed. 4) 8 If there should be no sons of his marriage, to provide for daughters, by profits, mortgage or sale; with proviso, that if father preferred them in marriage with portions equivalent, [etc.]. †2. transitive. To help forward or promote (a result); to assist in bringing about. Obsolete (rare after 17th cent.). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > continuing > progress, advance, or further continuance > furtherance > further [verb (transitive)] furtherc888 to bring onc1230 advancea1250 speeda1300 nourishc1300 avaunt1393 promotec1433 pasture?a1439 advantage?1459 promove1475 preferc1503 conduce1518 to set forth1528 to set forward(s)1530 to take forth1530 fillip1551 help1559 farther1570 foster1571 shoulder1577 to put forward1579 seconda1586 foment1596 hearten1598 to put on1604 fomentate1613 succeed1613 expeditea1618 producea1618 maturate1623 cultivate1641 encourage1677 push1693 forward1780 progress1780 admove1839 c1503 R. Arnold Chron. f. Cxi/2 Euery trew counceler..ought..to..promote encrece proferre and auaunce the wele and prosperyte of his lorde. ?1574 W. Bourne Regiment for Sea xxi. sig. P.ij That effect is most preferred if the Dragons head be in the beginning of the signe of Aries. 1590 L. Lloyd First Pt. Diall of Daies 134 To prosper the corne and the cattell, and to preferre the fruites of the fields. 1600–12 S. Rowlands Four Knaves (Percy Soc.) 50 Thus fingring money to preferre the case. ?1623 O. Felltham Resolues xlvii. 150 A little shaking prefers the growth of the tree. 1838 C. Dickens Let. 9 Nov. (1965) I. 451 With equal confidence in you I have lost no time in preferring it [sc. the enquiry]. †3. transitive. To promote, advance, raise up, exalt (a thing). Obsolete. ΚΠ 1532 C. St. German Treat. Div. Spirytualtie & Temporaltie ii. vii. f. 20 It wyll be harde to fynde any one spyrytuall man, that is nat enfecte with the sayd desyre and affection to haue the worldely honoure of prestes exalted and preferred. 1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 117^v Alexander..pardoned his boldenesse, and preferred his arte. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §439 All Grasiers preferre their Cattel from meaner Pastures to better. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 114 Ev'n though a snowy Ram thou shalt behold, Prefer him not in haste, for Husband to thy Fold. View more context for this quotation 1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. v. xxxiii. 339 Birds, Beasts, or Fishes; which upon their death are preferred into Humane Bodies. 1817 S. T. Coleridge Biogr. Lit. (1882) 81 The work was..preferred from the ominous cellar of the publishers to the author's garret. II. To favour. 4. transitive. To favour (one person or thing) in preference or to another; to like better. Also: to choose rather, tend to choose (with infinitive or that-clause as object). Frequently with adverbial phrase stating explicit comparison. Also intransitive.Now the usual sense. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > free will > choice or choosing > types of choice > choose in specific way [verb (transitive)] > choose in preference to others have1340 prefera1393 to have rather1478 fain1483 prelect1620 dextralize1651 antepone1656 savour1714 preference1904 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 1806 (MED) Whan that knythode schal be werred, Lust mai noght thanne be preferred. c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 158 (MED) To a prince longeþ nyȝe and ferre Ay to-fore ryȝt, pite to preferre. a1449 J. Lydgate Minor Poems (1934) ii. 777 (MED) Trewe iuges and sergeauntis of the lawe..Mercy preferre alwey to-for rigour. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1872) IV. 37 (MED) Thawȝe þer were men that did translate owte of Hebrewe in to Grewe in the Newe Testamente..ȝitte the lxxti interpretatores be preferrede afore [a1387 J. Trevisa tr. i-sette to fore; L. præferuntur] theyme. ?1504 W. Atkinson tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) iii. lviii. 248 Afore all worldly thynges prefarre thou the honour & medytacion of god. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 5 Hyt ys not to be preferryd therto as a thyng rather to be chosen & folowyd. 1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. Prol. f. 2 I preferre deidis of mercy abone all corporal and outwart sacrifice. 1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 7 I praefer Tulli before Caesar in writing Latin; do I therefore disable or disalow Caesar? 1610 A. Willet Hexapla in Danielem 195 The henne..contemneth a pearle, and preferreth a barley curnell. 1661 R. Boyle Some Consider. Style of Script. (1675) 165 He should not scruple to prefer the end to the means. 1680 R. Morden Geogr. Rectified (1685) 322 We may justly prefer it before the other parts of the World. 1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Apple A List of such Apples as are preferr'd for Kitchen Use..Monstrous Reinette. 1778 Hist. Eliza Warwick I. 25 He would prefer seeing his daughters dead at his feet, than behold them wedded to the worthiest men without titles and riches. 1815 J. W. Croker in L. J. Jennings Croker Papers (1884) I. 69 He preferred living like a Grecian, to dying like a Roman. 1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxxi. 386 Not that they prefer rum. 1845 R. Browning Laboratory in Bells & Pomegranates No. VII: Dramatic Romances & Lyrics vii Let her turn it and stir, And try it and taste, ere she fix and prefer! 1882 J. A. Froude in Fortn. Rev. Dec. 734 Warlike races prefer to be under a chief. 1902 Edinb. Rev. Apr. 512 He prefers rather than excludes. 1940 Punch 6 May (Summer No.) (caption) Please don't hesitate to say if you prefer your coffee white. 1992 N.Y. Times Mag. 6 Sept. 8/3 An electorate that prefers style over substance, image over issues and somnambulism to scrutiny. †5. transitive. Chiefly Scottish. To take precedence over; to surpass, excel. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being better or superior > [verb (transitive)] to go before ——OE overlightlOE preferc1395 precede1485 precess1529 to take the wall (of a person)?1562 outshine1605 to have the place1659 to take the road of1670 rank1841 the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > outdo or surpass [verb (transitive)] overstyeOE overshinec1175 overgoc1225 passc1225 surmountc1369 forpassc1374 overmatcha1375 overpassa1382 to pass overa1393 overcomec1400 outpass?a1425 exceedc1425 precedec1425 superexcelc1429 transcendc1430 precel?a1439 outcut1447 overgrowc1475 to come over ——a1479 excel1493 overleapa1500 vanquish1533 outweigh1534 prevent1540 better1548 preferc1550 outgo1553 surpassa1555 exsuperate1559 cote1566 overtop1567 outrun1575 outstrip1579 outsail1580 overruna1586 pre-excel1587 outbid1589 outbrave1589 out-cote1589 top1590 outmatch1593 outvie1594 superate1595 surbravec1600 oversile1608 over-height1611 overstride1614 outdoa1616 outlustrea1616 outpeera1616 outstrikea1616 outrival1622 antecede1624 out-top1624 antecell1625 out-pitch1627 over-merit1629 outblazea1634 surmatch1636 overdoa1640 overact1643 outact1644 worst1646 overspana1657 outsoar1674 outdazzle1691 to cut down1713 ding1724 to cut out1738 cap1821 by-pass1848 overtower1850 pretergress1851 outray1876 outreach1879 cut1884 outperform1937 outrate1955 one-up1963 c1395 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Tale 96 I graunte it wel I haue noon enuye, Thogh maydenhede preferre [v.rr. prefer, profere; precelle] bigamye. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) 99 I will weill otheris can say mair curyusly Bot I haue said eftir my fantasy, I covait nocht to prefer ony wight. c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 34 Sen the varld vas creat scheiphirdis prefferrit al vthir staitis. 1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour 871 Because all vther he did prefer, Namit he wes brycht Lucefer. 6. transitive. Law and Finance. To give priority to (one creditor or debt owed) over another. Cf. preferred adj. 4. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > claim at law > [verb (transitive)] > give priority to prefer1429 1429 Will in Trans. Essex Archæol. Soc. (1895) 5 306 (MED) I wol that yif any of myn executours..wol bye any thing of my houshold, that they be preferred to bye, so yat they yeue as mnche [read muche] therefore as other wullen. 1433 Rolls of Parl. IV. 432/1 Yat, in paiement..y preferre youre Houshold, youre Wardrobe, and your necessarie Werkes. a1443 Chancery Proc. Ser. C1 File 9 No. 128 (MED) So þat in þat sale þe said Suppliaunt shuld be preferred a fore eny oþer man. a1500 ( in C. Monro Lett. Margaret of Anjou (1863) 40 (MED) It is harde for me to preferre thos payments withouten importable maugre on other parties. 1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo i. xxx. 170 Aboue all things money lent for victualls to the ships company should be payed and preferred before all other debts. 1701 J. Godolphin Orphan's Legacy (ed. 4) ii. 216 Neither is it in the election of the Executor to prefer any other Debt due to any Subject. 1767 R. Burn Eccl. Law (ed. 2) IV. 247 One executor or administrator may not prefer his own debt, before the debt of another executor or administrator, being in equal degree. 1818 N. Amer. Rev. May 32 By our present laws a debtor has a perfect right to prefer any one creditor to the utter neglect of the rest. 1901 Times 4 July 7/1 The administrator had in his hands a sum of money for which he was accountable, leaving the question open whether he had still a right to prefer the debt of the bank. 1920 Times 23 Nov. 5/3 If he took a grant as a creditor he would require special power to prefer his own debt. 1934 Yale Law Jrnl. 45 584 The lessor of a non-assignable lease..was held to have an absolute right to intervene in receivership proceedings, because the receiver had sold the lease and, furthermore, had made no provision for preferring the debt incurred by maintenance. III. To present, submit. 7. transitive. To present or submit (a bill, charge, piece of information, etc.) to someone, esp. an authority, for consideration or approval. Now chiefly in to prefer charges. Formerly also with †up. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > suggestion, proposal > suggest [verb (transitive)] > for consideration puta1350 purposea1382 propone1402 motion1505 exhibit1529 propound?1531 prefer1539 raise1566 to put forward1569 broach1579 start1579 offer1583 propose1614 first1628 to put it to a person1664 moot1685 suppose1771 pose1862 to put up1901 1539 J. Gough tr. J. Le Maire Abbreuyacyon Gen. Councellys sig. Eviii^v In this artycle y^e kyng Charles the seuenth prefered his decrees and actes of Pracmatica, Sanxio [Fr. publia et decreta la Pragmatique sanction]. 1559 Bp. Scot in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1709) I. App. vii. 12 The contents of all the bills preferred and read here. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. clxij The Marques intrateth kyng Ferdinando, that he would immediatly preferre this matter to the Emperoure. 1601 J. Weever Mirror of Martyrs sig. Dij^v That I preferd up Bills in Parliament, Whereto the King and Lords gaue all consent. a1674 Earl of Clarendon Brief View Leviathan (1676) 103 Suppose that an Information were preferr'd in the Kings Bench..against Mr. Hobbes. 1704 Boston News-let. 12 June 2/1 Capt. Quelch preferr'd a Petition to His Excellency and Honourable Court. 1768 H. Walpole Hist. Doubts 120 The consequence of a suit preferred by him to the ecclesiastic Court. 1813 J. Hogg Queen's Wake Introd. 20 But many a bard preferred his prayer; For many a Scottish bard was there. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple III. xxiv. 315 A superior is equally bound to prefer a charge, or to give notice that that charge will be preferred..instead of lulling the offender into security. 1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam c. 155 These two have striven half the day, And each prefers his separate claim, Poor rivals in a losing game. View more context for this quotation 1884 Ld. Coleridge in Law Times Rep. 50 277/1 Preferring an indictment against her for stealing his goods. 1914 Evening Post (Wellington, N.Z.) 14 Jan. 10/5 The charge you prefer against the ‘Red Feds’. 1969 M. Puzo Godfather i. x. 129 Do you want to prefer charges against whoever did this to you? 1988 B. Cooper Alexander Kennedy Isbister i. iv. 96 Charges of illegal trafficking in furs were duly preferred against Pierre Guillaume Sayer. †8. transitive. To put or set in front or before. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > front > be in front of [verb (transitive)] > place in front (of) foresetc825 to lay … beforec1000 again-puta1425 again-seta1425 preponea1513 prefer?1541 prepose?1541 prefix1604 prefacea1658 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > endanger [verb (transitive)] > expose to danger, harm, etc. expose1474 object?1520 prefer?1541 expone1564 oppose1589 ?1541 R. Copland Maner to Examyne Lazares in Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens sig. Rj^v Do nat as a folysshe iudge that forthwith gyueth his sentence, but fyrste or thou gyue it preferre [Fr. prefere] God before thyne eyes, and consydre dylygently [etc.]. 1575 G. Fenton Golden Epist. f. 60 He Wroat speedelye to Joab..that at the time of the assault, Vrias might be preferred to the perill of his lyfe. †9. transitive. To present for acceptance, proffer; to introduce, recommend. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > giving > offer or action of offering > offer [verb (transitive)] i-bedea800 bidOE make?a1160 forthc1200 bihedec1275 proffera1325 yielda1382 dressc1384 to serve fortha1393 dight1393 pretend1398 nurnc1400 offerc1425 profita1450 tent1459 tend1475 exhibit1490 propine1512 presentc1515 oblate1548 pretence1548 defer?1551 to hold forth1560 prefer1567 delatea1575 to give forth1584 tender1587 oppose1598 to hold out1611 shore1787 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > recommendation > recommend [verb (transitive)] commendc1400 recommise1427 recommendc1460 recommit?1521 prefer1567 wish1612 value1670 moyen1897 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. x. f. 214 Whyche kynde of courtyng thamarus Luchyn forgatt not too prefer as a testey of hys seruice. 1624 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 2) ii. ii. iii. 222 Bessardus Bisantinus preferres the smoake of Iuniper to melancholy persons. 1646 R. Crashaw Musicks Duell in Steps to Temple 105 Preferre soft Anthems to the Eares of men. 1653 R. Codrington Ep. Ded. in L. Lloyd Marrow of Hist. A3 I have here preferred to your observance and protection, a work of great Art, and of greater Industry. 1677 J. Evelyn Mem. 13 Sept. I preferred Mr. Philips [sc. the nephew of Milton] to the service of my Lord Chamberlaine, who wanted a scholar to read to and entertain him sometimes. 1709 A. Pope Summer in Poet. Misc.: 6th Pt. vi. 734 Each am'rous Nymph prefers her Gifts in vain. 1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey I. iii. 64 He spake, and to her hand preferr'd the bowl. 1867 C. B. Cayley in Fortn. Rev. Nov. 591 Seeking what words can avail me, What numbers even, to prefer clear light to thy aspect [L. præpandere lumina menti]. †10. transitive. To refer; to attribute, ascribe. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > causation > attribution or assignment of cause > assign to a cause [verb (transitive)] titleOE aretc1340 witena1375 witnea1375 reta1382 depute1382 wite1382 seta1387 layc1425 expoundc1430 imputec1480 attribue1481 assign1489 reckon1526 attribute1530 count1535 allot?1556 draw1578 object1613 prefer1628 entitle1629 implya1641 to score (something) on1645 intitule1651 put1722 to put down1723 charge1737 own1740 place1802 to set down1822 affiliate1823 1628 G. Wither Britain's Remembrancer Concl. 35 The building of a Towne we doe preferre Unto the Mason and the Carpenter. a1657 W. Burton Comm. Antoninus his Itinerary (1658) 26 Jerome Surita..prefers this work to Antoninus the son of Severus. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < v.a1393
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