prefer
v.
late 14c., "to put forward or advance in rank or fortune, to promote," from Old French preferer (14c.) and directly from Latin praeferre "place or set before, carry in front," from prae "before" (see pre-) + ferre "to carry, to place" (see infer). Meaning "to esteem (something) more than others" also is recorded from late 14c. Original sense in English is preserved in preferment.
〔李〕[pre-=before 先；fer=to carry 带⇒“to carry sth. before others 与其他东西相比，先带走某物”→] v. choose rather；like better 宁要；更喜欢
〔蒋〕[pre-先，fer拿，取;对某物’先取”，’先选”，宁愿’先要”某事物] 宁可，宁愿(选择)， 更喜欢…，偏爱…
〔李〕[pre-=before在……之前；fer=to bring带→“to bring something before all the others把某物放在他物之前”→] v. choose rather;like better宁要；偏爱