Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FA'VOR-IT-ISM, n.

1. The act or practice of favoring, or giving a preference to one over another.
2. The disposition to favor, aid and promote the interest of a favorite, or of one person or family, or of one class of men, to the neglect of others having equal claims. It has been suggested that the proceeds of the foreign bills – were calculated merely to indulge a spirit of favoritism to the bank of the United states. Hamilton. Which consideration imposes such a necessity on the Crown, as hath, in a great measure, subdued the influence of favoritism. Paley.
3. Exercise of power by favorites. Burke.