favor (fāv&etilde_;r), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bhāvaya to further, foster, causative of bhū to become, be. Cf. Be. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob. for favel a horse. See 2d Favel.] 1. Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will.
[1913 Webster]

Hath crawled into the favor of the king. Shak.
[1913 Webster]

2. The act of countenancing, or the condition of being countenanced, or regarded propitiously; support; promotion; befriending.
[1913 Webster]

But found no favor in his lady's eyes. Dryden.
[1913 Webster]

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke ii. 52.
[1913 Webster]

3. A kind act or office; kindness done or granted; benevolence shown by word or deed; an act of grace or good will, as distinct from justice or remuneration.
[1913 Webster]

Beg one favor at thy gracious hand. Shak.
[1913 Webster]

4. Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.
[1913 Webster]

I could not discover the lenity and favor of this sentence. Swift.
[1913 Webster]

5. The object of regard; person or thing favored.
[1913 Webster]

All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man,
His chief delight and favor. Milton.
[1913 Webster]

6. A gift or present; something bestowed as an evidence of good will; a token of love; a knot of ribbons; something worn as a token of affection; as, a marriage favor is a bunch or knot of white ribbons or white flowers worn at a wedding.
[1913 Webster]

Wear thou this favor for me, and stick it in thy cap. Shak.
[1913 Webster]

7. Appearance; look; countenance; face. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]

This boy is fair, of female favor. Shak.
[1913 Webster]

8. (Law) Partiality; bias. Bouvier.
[1913 Webster]

9. A letter or epistle; -- so called in civility or compliment; as, your favor of yesterday is received.
[1913 Webster]

10. pl. Love locks. [Obs.] Wright.
[1913 Webster]

Challenge to the favor or Challenge for favor (Law), the challenge of a juror on grounds not sufficient to constitute a principal challenge, but sufficient to give rise to a probable suspicion of favor or bias, such as acquaintance, business relation, etc. See Principal challenge, under Challenge. -- In favor of, upon the side of; favorable to; for the advantage of. -- In favor with, favored, countenanced, or encouraged by. -- To curry favor [see the etymology of Favor, above], to seek to gain favor by flattery, caresses, kindness, or officious civilities. -- With one's favor, or By one's favor, with leave; by kind permission.
[1913 Webster]

But, with your favor, I will treat it here. Dryden.

Syn. -- Kindness; countenance; patronage; support; lenity; grace; gift; present; benefit.
[1913 Webster]