Other forms: favours
A favour is a kind act done for somebody, or approval given. Do me a favour, in favour of, fall out of favour.
This is the British spelling; American writing has favor. Do me a favour said flatly in Britain often means the opposite — an expression of disbelief. In favour of means supporting, and out of favour means no longer liked by those in charge.
1nounfavourA kind act done for somebody.
“Could you do me a favour and water my plants while I'm away?”
2nounapprovalApproval or support.
“The plan to build a new park found favour with most residents.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
favour is a kindness, or approval.
Also accepted in games: favor
Proto-Indo-European
*bʰeh₂-
Middle English
favour
English
favor
English, today
favour
Built from
favor comes from Middle English favour. From Middle English favour, favor, faver, from Anglo-Norman favour, from mainland Old French favor, from Latin favor (“good will; kindness; partiality”), from faveō (“to be kind to”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂- (“to be favourable to”), from the root Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂- (“to shine, glow light”). Respelled in American English to more closely match its Latin etymon. Compare also Danish favør (“favor”), Irish fabhar (“favor”), from the same Romance source.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA