prefer: [14] To prefer one thing is etymologically to ‘carry it before’ others. The word comes via Old French preferer from Latin praeferre ‘set before’, a compound verb formed from the prefix prae- ‘before’ and ferre ‘carry’ (source of English fertile and related to bear). => bear
prefer (v.)
late 14c., "to put forward or advance in rank or fortune, to promote," 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 place" (see infer). Meaning "to esteem (something) more than others" also is recorded from late 14c. Original sense in English is preserved in preferment.
实用例句
1. I would prefer him to be with us next season.
我更希望他下一个赛季和我们在一起。来自柯林斯例句
2. I think more customers probably prefer a soft sell.
我认为更多的顾客也许更喜欢软性推销。来自柯林斯例句
3. They prefer to bargain with individual clients, for cash.
在现款方面，他们更愿意同散户打交道。来自柯林斯例句
4. I prefer going to the cinema to watching TV.
我更喜欢看电影而不是看电视。来自柯林斯例句
5. They prefer, in the end, to stick with what they know.
