Favorite
/ˈfeɪ.vər.ɪt/noun
A person or thing especially preferred over others.
Did you know?Favorite comes through French from Latin roots meaning “to show favor,” and the same ancient verb family also gave English words like favor, favorable, and favorably.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
favēre
“to show kindness or favor; to support”
Late Latin
Latin
favorītus
“favored; especially approved”
Old French
Old French
favori
“favored one; darling”
16th Century
English
favorite
“one especially favored or preferred”
Modern English
English
favorite
“the one most preferred among others”