Emily Dickinson Lexicon

prefer (-red), v. [Fr. < L. præfer-re, bear, put before or forward, prefer, advance < præ, before, in front + fer-re, bear.] (webplay: bear, before, character, choice, contend, desirable, hand, honor, joy, knowledge, life, men, mind, place, privilege, public, reasonings, spake).

1. Want; desire; wish; please; intend; have in mind.
2. Choose; select; opt for; want instead; value more highly; desire above anything else.
3. Like; love; adore; prize; treasure; enjoy; be partial to; be fond of.
4. Phrase. “Prefer to” or “Prefer against”: desire above; choose over; want instead of; value more highly than.