With following clause, esp. bare infinitive (in Middle English and early modern English also to-infinitiv… In the indicative in similar…

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…

Sooner (as a matter of choice); more readily or willingly; with greater liking or goodwill; in… had rather: would rather; (see have, v. 47c). †Hence…

To rejoice in, enjoy; also, to take to gladly, show preference for. rare.

transitive. To choose in preference to others. Obsolete. rare.

transitive. To make a ‘right’ hand or ‘right’ side of; hence to use in preference to the other.

transitive. To place before in position; to set before in preference; (also) to bring forward in time.

transitive. With out: to hunt out, to get wind of. Cf. smell, v. 3. Obsolete. rare.

transitive. Originally and chiefly U.S. To give preferential treatment or consideration to; to prefer.