From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
favorite
adj 1: appealing to the general public; "a favorite tourist
attraction" [syn: favourite]
2: preferred above all others and treated with partiality; "the
favored child" [syn: favored, {favorite(a)},
{favourite(a)}, pet, preferred]
n 1: something regarded with special favor or liking; "that book
is one of my favorites" [syn: favourite]
2: a special loved one [syn: darling, favourite, pet,
dearie, deary, ducky]
3: a competitor thought likely to win [syn: front-runner,
favourite]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Favorite \Fa"vor*ite\, a.
Regarded with particular affection, esteem, or preference;
as, a favorite walk; a favorite child. "His favorite
argument." --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Favorite \Fa"vor*ite\, n. [OF. favorit favored, F. favori, fem.
favorite, p. p. of OF. favorir, cf. It. favorito, frm.
favorita, fr. favorire to favor. See Favor.]
1. A person or thing regarded with peculiar favor; one
treated with partiality; one preferred above others;
especially, one unduly loved, trusted, and enriched with
favors by a person of high rank or authority.
[1913 Webster]
Committing to a wicked favorite
All public cares. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. pl. Short curls dangling over the temples; -- fashionable
in the reign of Charles II. [Obs.] --Farquhar.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Sporting) The competitor (as a horse in a race) that is
judged most likely to win; the competitor standing highest
in the betting.
[1913 Webster]