Disprefer

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To express a lesser inclination toward an option indicates a preference that favors an alternative choice instead
2. To indicate a lesser favoring of one option over another suggests a greater inclination toward a different choice altogether
3. To demonstrate a reduced liking for a particular choice reflects a stronger preference for an alternative option

Etymology: "Disprefer" is a simple formation: the prefix "dis-" added to "prefer." The prefix comes from Latin "dis-", which meant "apart" or "in different directions" and reversed or negated the sense of the word it attached to. English took "prefer" from Old French, which had inherited it from Latin "praeferre," meaning "to carry before" or "to set in front," and the English sense of choosing one thing over another grew out of that idea of placing one thing ahead of another. The "dis-" prefix reached English through Middle English and Old French, where it had already been used in many verbs, so "disprefer" follows a familiar pattern of pairing a negating prefix with a verb of choosing or valuing. Its meaning is simply the reverse of "prefer": to favor one thing less than another. The formation is plain and transparent, so there is little more to trace beyond the two parts.

Synonyms: disfavor, dissuade

Antonyms: prefer, favor