favour
UK[ˈfeɪvə]US[ˈfeɪvər]
n
an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual
n
approval, support, or liking for someone or something
n
a small gift or souvenir given out at a party or event
v
to prefer or support one possibility over others
v
to treat someone with special kindness or partiality
v
to look like or resemble (a parent or relative)
Etymology
The word 'favour' traces a direct path from the Latin verb favere, meaning "to befriend, to show kindness towards." This verb likely stems from the Proto-Indo-European root dʰeh₁-, which carried the core sense of "to put, to place, to set," an action that conceptually extends to establishing a supportive or beneficial relationship. In Latin, the noun favor evolved to signify the goodwill, approval, or partiality that arises from such supportive acts. Borrowed into English via Anglo-Norman French after the Norman Conquest, the word retained its core semantic field of kindness, support, and preferential treatment, solidifying its abstract meaning in the social and emotional lexicon of English.
Analysis
The word 'favour' is a simplex form. It entered English as a whole lexical unit from Anglo-Norman French, where it was spelled favour or favor. Its ultimate origin is the Latin noun favor (meaning goodwill, approval, partiality), derived from the verb favere (to show kindness to, to favor, to befriend).
Examples
Would you do me a favour and pass the salt?
The judge was accused of showing favour to the wealthy defendant.
The current economic policies favour large corporations.