Favored

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Held in particular esteem or given a preferential status
2. Regarded with partiality or receiving special backing from others
3. Chosen or preferred above other options due to positive bias or support

Etymology: "Favored" comes from the Latin "favor," which meant goodwill, kindness, or partiality toward someone. That noun grew from the verb "favere," to show support for or be well disposed toward a person or cause. The adjective keeps that sense of one thing being backed over another. The spelling is the only real difference between American and British usage. The British "favour" keeps a "u" that the Latin original never had, and the American "favored" drops it. Both spellings describe the same word.

Synonyms: preferred, blessed, privileged

Antonyms: disfavored, unfavored, ignored