English

Noun

favour ‎(plural favours)

1. British standard spelling of favor.
   • 2013 June 29, “Unspontaneous combustion”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8842, page 29:

     Since the mid-1980s, when Indonesia first began to clear its bountiful forests on an industrial scale in favour of lucrative palm-oil plantations, “haze” has become an almost annual occurrence in South-East Asia.

   I need a favour. Could you lend me £5 until tomorrow, please?‎

   Can you do me a favour and drop these letters in the post box?‎

Translations

Verb

favour ‎(third-person singular simple present favours, present participle favouring, simple past and past participle favoured)

1. British standard spelling of favor.
   • 1611, KJV, Luke 1:28:

     "And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." —

   • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:

     The departure was not unduly prolonged. In the road Mr. Love and the driver favoured the company with a brief chanty running. “Got it?—No, I ain't, 'old on,—Got it? Got it?—No, 'old on sir.”

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 6, in The China Governess:

     Even in an era when individuality in dress is a cult, his clothes were noticeable. He was wearing a hard hat of the low round kind favoured by hunting men, and with it a black duffle-coat lined with white.

Translations

Usage notes

• Favour is the standard British and Commonwealth spelling. Favor is the standard American spelling, and an alternative in Canada.

Old French

Noun

favour f ‎(oblique plural favours, nominative singular favour, nominative plural favours)

1. Late Anglo-Norman spelling of favor

   [V]ous leur veulliez faire favour[,] ease et desport sanz faire a eux ou soeffrer estre fait de nully male, moleste, injurie, damage indehucee, destourbance ne empeschement en aucune manere.‎

   You want to show them favor, ease and enjoyment without making them suffer or subjecting them to any evil, harm, injury, damage, disruption or obstacle of any kind.