Part 70

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. [Obs.]

This boy is fair, of female favor.

Shak.

8. (Law) Partiality; bias. Bouvier.

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

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

Challenge to the favor or 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.

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

Dryden.

Syn. -- Kindness; countenance; patronage; support; lenity; grace; gift; present; benefit.

Fa"vor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Favored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Favoring.] [Written also favour.] [Cf. OF. favorer, favorir. See Favor, n.] 1. To regard with kindness; to support; to aid, or to have the disposition to aid, or to wish success to; to be propitious to; to countenance; to treat with consideration or tenderness; to show partiality or unfair bias towards.

O happy youth! and favored of the skies.

Pope.

He that favoreth Joab, . . . let him go after Joab.

2 Sam. xx. 11.

Swift.

2. To afford advantages for success to; to facilitate; as, a weak place favored the entrance of the enemy.

3. To resemble in features; to have the aspect or looks of; as, the child favors his father.

The porter owned that the gentleman favored his master.

Spectator.

Fa"vor*a*ble (?), 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.

Lend favorable ears to our request.

Shak.