An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

To like better or value more highly.

M.E. preferre, from O.Fr. preferer and directly from L. praeferre "to place or set before, carry in front," from prae "before," → pre-, + ferre "to carry, to bear," from PIE root *bher- "to carry;" cf. Pers. bordan "to carry, bear," → refer.

Behzunidan, literally "to value highly, to consider better," from beh "good, fine," → optimum, + zun, variant of dân-, dânestan "to know, consider," cf. Tâti zun/zund "to know," Khunsâri zûn-/zûnâ, Mahallâti zôn-, Semnâni -zûn-, Hamedâni zunayän/zun- , Esfahâni zunän/zun-, Yarandi zônâj-/zôn-, Gazi zûn-/zûnâšt; Av. zān- "to know," → science.

Worthy to be preferred; more desirable.

→ prefer; → -able.

1) Act of → preferring.
2) That which is preferred.

→ prefer; → -ence.