(often + to) to like (something or somebody) better than something or somebody else
He prefers sports to reading
formal to bring (a charge) against somebody
to give (somebody, esp a creditor) priority
archaic to give promotion or advancement to (somebody)
Lo, Ambrose Philips is preferred for wit! — Pope
preferrer noun
[Middle English preferren via French from Latin praeferre to put before, prefer, from prae- + ferre to carry]