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Origin and history of preference

preference(n.)

mid-15c., preferraunce, "advancement in position or status;" 1650s as "act of prefering," from Old French preference (14c., Modern French préférence), from Medieval Latin preferentia, from past-participle stem of Latin praeferrere "place or set before, carry in front" (see prefer). Sense of "that which one prefers, the object of choice" is from 1852.

also from mid-15c.

Entries linking to preference

prefer(v.)

late 14c., preferren, "to put forward or advance in rank or fortune, to promote (to an office, dignity, or position); further (one's interest)," from Old French preferer (14c.) and directly from Latin praeferre "place or set before, carry in front," from prae "before" (see pre-) + ferre "to carry, to bear," from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry," also "to bear children."

The meaning "to esteem or value (something) more than others, set before others in liking or esteem" also is recorded from late 14c. and is now the usual sense. The other sense in English is preserved in preferment.

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