different between preference vs druthers

English

Alternative forms

• præference (archaic)

Etymology 1

From Middle French preference, from Medieval Latin preferentia. Doublet of preferans.

Morphologically prefer +? -ence.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p??f(?)?(?)ns/

Noun

preference (countable and uncountable, plural preferences)

1. The selection of one thing or person over others (with the main adposition being "for" in relation to the thing or person, but possibly also "of")

   He has a preference for crisp wines.

2. The option to so select, and the one selected.

3. The state of being preferred over others.
4. A strong liking or personal valuation.
5. A preferential bias; partiality; discrimination.

Synonyms

• forechoice
• (preferential bias): see Thesaurus:predilection

Derived terms

• preference share(s}
• preference stock

Translations

Verb

preference (third-person singular simple present preferences, present participle preferencing, simple past and past participle preferenced)

1. (US) To give preferential treatment to; to give a preference to.

See also

• preferences

Etymology 2

Noun

preference (uncountable)

1. Preferans, a card game, principally played in Eastern Europe.

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?pr?f?r?nt?s?]

Noun

preference f

1. preference (selection of one thing or person over others)

Derived terms

• preferen?ní

Related terms

• See oferta
• preferovat

See also

• up?ednostn?ní

Further reading

• preference in P?íru?ní slovník jazyka ?eského, 1935–1957
• preference in Slovník spisovného jazyka ?eského, 1960–1971, 1989

Middle French

Noun

preference f (plural preferences)

1. preference (option preferred over another option)

English

Etymology

From the expression "I'd rather" (meaning "I would prefer to") often pronounced "I druther" in some dialects.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d??ð?z/

Noun

druthers pl (plural only)

1. (US, informal, often jocular) Wishes, preferences, or ways.

   If I had my druthers I’d eat in a restaurant every night of the week.

   • 1929, Harry McClintock, "If I Had My Druthers"

     "If I had my druthers, I would not be a king. I'd druther be just what I am than any other thing."

Usage notes

• The singular form "druther" is used with the same meaning, but much more rarely.

• The noun "druthers" is sometimes used in conjunction with the verb "druther" for increased comic effect.

  If I've got my druthers, I'd druther not.

  or, alternatively,

  If I've got my druthers, I druther not.

This double formation was popularized by the American cartoonist Al Capp (1909-1979) in the long-running Li'l Abner comic strip and was also featured in the song "If I Had my Druthers" in Li'l Abner: The Musical (1956).

Related terms

• druther

References

• Merriam Webster