favor

n. [ Written also favour. ] [ OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bhāvaya to further, foster, causative of bhū to become, be. Cf. Be. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob. for favel a horse. See 2d Favel. ] 1. Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hath crawled into the favor of the king. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of countenancing, or the condition of being countenanced, or regarded propitiously; support; promotion; befriending. [ 1913 Webster ]

But found no favor in his lady's eyes. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke ii. 52. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beg one favor at thy gracious hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity. [ 1913 Webster ]

I could not discover the lenity and favor of this sentence. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The object of regard; person or thing favored. [ 1913 Webster ]

All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man,
His chief delight and favor. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A gift or present; 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Wear thou this favor for me, and stick it in thy cap. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Appearance; look; countenance; face. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This boy is fair, of female favor. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Law) Partiality; bias. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. A letter or epistle; -- so called in civility or compliment; as, your favor of yesterday is received. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. pl. Love locks. [ Obs. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

Challenge to the favor or
Challenge for favor (Law), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

But, with your favor, I will treat it here. Dryden.

Syn. -- Kindness; countenance; patronage; support; lenity; grace; gift; present; benefit. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Written also favourable. ] [ F. favorable, L. favorabilis favored, popular, pleasing, fr. favor. See Favor, n. ] 1. Full of favor; favoring; manifesting partiality; kind; propitious; friendly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lend favorable ears to our request. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land. Ps. lxxxv. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Conducive; contributing; tending to promote or facilitate; advantageous; convenient. [ 1913 Webster ]

A place very favorable for the making levies of men. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

The temper of the climate, favorable to generation, health, and long life. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Beautiful; well-favored. [ Obs. ] Spenser.

-- Fa"vora*ble*ness, n. -- Fa"vor*a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

The favorableness of the present times to all exertions in the cause of liberty. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Countenanced; aided; regarded with kindness; as, a favored friend. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having a certain favor or appearance; featured; as, well-favored; hard-favored, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a favored or a favorable manner; favorably. [ Obs. ] Deut. xvii. 1. Arscham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Appearance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who favors; one who regards with kindness or friendship; a well-wisher; one who assists or promotes success or prosperity. [ Written also favourer. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And come to us as favorers, not as foes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who favors or gives countenance. [ Written also fovouress. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That favors. -- Fa"vor*ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]