favor definition

1. Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. "Hath crawled into the favor of the king." (Shak)

2. The act of countenancing, or the condition of being countenanced, or regarded propitiously; support; promotion; befriending. "But found no favor in his lady's eyes." (Dryden) "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." (Luke II. 52)

3. A kind act or office; kindness done or granted; benevolence shown by word or deed; an act of grace or good will, as distinct from justice or remuneration. "Beg one favor at thy gracious hand." (Shak)

4. Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity. "I could not discover the lenity and fabor of this sentence." (Swift)

5. The object of regard; person or thing favored. "All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man, His chief delight and favor." (Milton)

6. A gift or represent; something bestowed as an evidence of good will; a token of love; a knot of ribbons; something worn as a token of affection; as, a marriage favor is a bunch or knot of white ribbons or white flowers worn at a wedding. "Wear thou this favor for me, and stick it in thy cap." (Shak)

7. Appearance; look; countenance; face. "This boy is fair, of female favor." (Shak)

8. Partiality; bias.

9. A letter or epistle; so called in civility or compliment; as, your favor of yesterday is received.

10. Love locks. Challenge to the favor or for favor, the challenge of a juror on grounds not sufficient to constitute a principal challenge, but sufficient to give rise to a probable suspicion of favor or bias, such as acquaintance, business relation, etc. See Principal challenge, under Challenge. In favor of, upon the side of; favorable to; for the advantage of. In favor with, favored, countenanced, or encouraged by. To curry favor [see the etymology of Favor, above], to seek to gain favor by flattery, caresses, kindness, or officious civilities. With one's favor, or By one's favor, with leave; by kind permission. "But, with your favor, I will treat it here." (Dryden)

Synonyms: Kindness, countenance, patronage, support, lenity, grace, gift, present, benefit.

Origin: OF. Favor, F. Faveur, L. Favor, fr. Favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. Bhavaya to further, foster, causative of bh to become, be. Cf. Be. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob. For favel a horse. See Favel.