Praeferit

Praeferit is a Latin verb form meaning “he/she/it preferred” or “has preferred.” It is the third-person singular perfect active indicative of the verb praefero, which means to prefer, to set before, or to carry before. In Latin prose, praeferit is used to denote a completed act of preferring something over another.

Etymology and principal parts: Praefero comes from the prefix prae- meaning “before” and fero meaning “to bear or carry.” The principal parts are praefero, praeferre, praetuli, praelatum. As part of the irregular -fero family, its forms follow the distinctive pattern of that group, with praefert-like forms appearing in certain tenses in related words, while praeferit specifically marks the perfect active indicative in the third person singular.

Usage and syntax: In classic Latin, praeferit expresses a completed act of preferring and governs the direct object that is being preferred. The thing preferred is typically placed in the accusative, and the sentence may involve comparison with quam (“than”) or other contextual markers of choice. The verb may appear in historical or narrative passages to report a past decision or preference. It is contrasted with the present or future forms of praefero found in other contexts.

Example: Alterum praeferit. This translates roughly as “He preferred the other (one).” The phrase illustrates the core sense of the verb in its perfect tense: a completed act of choosing one option over another.

See also: praefero; fero; Latin verb forms; Latin vocabulary for preference terms.