English Lesson: Favor

This is another in a series of lessons concerning word usages I learned growing up, and still hear frequently back home, in the hills of eastern Kentucky. 

The word today is favor.

The standard English usage of the word is to indicate a preference for one thing over another.  

However, back home, and maybe other places too, it can have other meanings.

I've been told that I "favor" my mother.   The person who told me that did not mean that my mother was my favorite parent, he meant that I resembled or looked like my mother.  I've heard favor use that way all my life.

And here's another usage.

If a person injures his right leg and as a result walks with a limp, people might say he "favors" his right leg, which does not mean he prefers his right leg to his left leg.   What it means is that his right leg probably hurts right smart and he can't put all his weight on it.

If you've been following my English lessons, you know what right smart means.

Favor.  It's a good word.  Go forth and use it well.