preferrer

English

Alternative forms

• preferer

Etymology

prefer +‎ -er.

Noun

preferrer (plural preferrers)

1. A person who prefers (a stated person or thing).
   1. A person who likes one thing more than another; a person who favours something.

      a preferrer of red wine

      • 1833, Ralph Waldo Emerson, journal entry dated 13 January, 1833, in Edward Waldo Emerson and Waldo Emerson Forbes (eds.), Journals of Ralph Waldo Emerson, London: Constable, 1910, pp. 14-15,^[1]

        […] it takes a divine man to exhibit anything divine, Socrates, Alfred, Columbus, Wordsworth, or any other brave preferrer of the still voice within to the roar of the populace—a thing very easy to speak and very hard to do for twenty-four hours.

      • 1984, William E. Nix, Susan W. Nix, chapter 2, in The Dow Jones-Irwin Guide to Stock Index Futures and Options‎^[2], Homewood, IL: Dow Jones-Irwin, page 15:

        What is my attitude toward risk—am I a risk preferrer, risk neutral, or risk avoider?

      • 1996, Martin E. Marty, “Religion and Nationality”, in William Scott Green, Jacob Neusner, editors, The Religion Factor‎^[3], Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, page 21:

        I […] am not a pacifist. Though a peacemonger, negotiator, preferrer of embargoes to missiles, I know there are times when the call of nation and nationality to use arms may have to be responded to.

   2. (obsolete) A person who advances or promotes someone or something.
      • 1548, Edward Hall, “The Victorious Actes of Kyng Henry the Fifth, The Seconde Yere”, in The vnion of the two noble and illustre famelies of Lancastre and Yorke‎^[4], London:

        I cannot nor ought nor, except I would bee noted not onely ingrate to your royall person beyng my patrone & preferrer, but also a neglecter of my dutye, a secrete mummer of suche thynges whiche touche both the inheritance of your croune & the honor of your realme ether holde my peace or kepe silence.

      • 1655, Thomas Fuller, “Section 3”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, book, page 206:

        She [Anna Bollen] was a great Patronesse of the Protestants, Protectour of the persecuted, Preferrer of men of merit (among whom Hugh Latimer) a bountifull Reliever of the poor, and the happy Mother of Queen Elizabeth.

   3. A person who presents or submits something to an authority.
      • 1607, John Cowell, The Interpreter‎^[5], Cambridge:

        It [an Enditement] differeth from an Accusation in this, that the preferrer of the Bill is no way tyed to the proofe thereof vpon any penalty, if it be not proued, except there appeare conspiracy.

      • 1642, Cresacre More, chapter 8, in The Life and Death of Sr. Thomas More‎^[6], page 272:

        […] Q. Anne’s father […] was the preferrer of the suite, & hated Sir THOMAS both for his religion, and for that he had not consented to his daughter’s marriage […]

      • 1886, William Winthrop, chapter 10, in Military Law‎^[7], volume 1, Washington, DC: W.H. Morrison, page 203:

        Such a charge may originate either with the formal preferrer himself, or with any other individual whether or not in the military or public service.