“favorite” in Latin

either carissimus (dearest): praecipuus, praestantissimus (best); or by circumlocution, quem, quod, etc., aliquis in deliciis habet; qui, quae, quod, etc., in deliciis est alicui. A favorite ape, simia, quam aliquis in deliciis habet. A favorite author or writer, scriptor gratissimi studii (after Suet., Ner., 47); scriptor, quem aliquis non legit, sed lectitat (after Plin., Ep. 2, 17, 18); scriptor, quem aliquis diligentissime cognovit, neque e manibus dimittit (Cic., Or., 30, 105). A favorite book, liber, quem aliquis non legit, sed lectitat (after Plin., Ep. 2, 17, 8); liber, quem aliquis non (or numquam) dimittit e manibus (after Cic., Or., 30, 105). A favorite expression of anybody’s, *vox, qua longe omnium maxime aliquis utitur; *vox, quam aliquis in deliciis habet: a favorite cup, poculum gratissimi usus: a favorite dish, cibus delectabilis (Tac.). A favorite maid, dilecta alicui ex ancillis praecipue (i. e., of the women at court; after Plin., 35, 10, 36, No. 12, § 86); ancilla alicui percara (after Tac., Ann., 13, 19, 2); gratissima ancillarum (after Suet., Tit., 7); delicata (Inscr.). A favorite notion, thought, species quaedam, quam amplexatur aliquis: a favorite opinion, sententia, quam aliquis adamavit. A favorite occupation, *studium, quo maxime delectatur aliquis: anything is anybody’s favorite occupation, aliquis maxime delectatur aliqua re; aliquis maxime versatur in aliqua re. A favorite pursuit, studium, quo aliquis maxime ducitur, or *cui aliquis maxime indulget; sometimes from the context studium, or ingenii voluptas only: to indulge in some favorite pursuit, animum ad aliquid studium adjungere: to follow one’s favorite pursuit, ingenii sui voluptati indulgere: everybody has his favorite pursuit, suo quisque studio maxime ducitur; hic in illo sibi, in hoc alius indulget; trahit sua quemque voluptas (Verg., Ecl., 2, 65): his favorite pursuits, studia sua. A favorite slave, dilectus alicui ex servis praecipue: servus alicui percarus: gratissimus servorum: delicatus (Inscr.): the latter was the favorite slave of his master, is longe omnium servorum carissimus erat domino (after Curt. 3, 12, 16): a favorite theme or subject, res, quam aliquis libenter tractat; *res, de qua aliquis saepe et libenter quidem disserit. A favorite wish, *quod alicui maxime in votis est. A favorite mistress (being a slave), dilecta alicui ex pallacis praecipue (Plin., 35, 10, 36, No. 12, § 86). A favorite work, *opus, quo aliquis maxime delectatur.

A favorite, as substantive (α) Generally, deliciae, amores. (The words are found in this connection and order.) deliciae atque amores alicujus: anybody is my favorite, is a great favorite of mine, est mihi aliquis in deliciis, or in amoribus, or in amore et deliciis aliquem in deliciis habeo; est aliquis in sinu et complexu meo; est aliquis de complexu et sinu meo; est aliquis in oculis meis; est mihi aliquis percarus; est mihi aliquis longe omnium (amicorum, as friend; or liberorum, as child) carissimus: to be a favorite of the gods, a diis diligi: to be a favorite with the people, popularibus carum esse acceptumque: no one was a greater favorite with the people, nemo multitudini carior fuit: anything makes anybody a favorite with all the better sort, aliquid aliquem apud optimum quemque favorabilem facit (Velleius). (β) Of a prince, principi or principis familiaris (Vid: Suet., Ner., 20, Vit.); also, apud principem gratiosus: a favorite of fortune, quem fortuna complex est or fovet: to be anybody’s favorite, gratia alicujus florere; gratia multum valere apud aliquem: to be the declared favorite of a prince, principi omnium amicorum esse carissimum: of his freed men, his favorite was Posides, libertorum praecipue suspexit Posiden (Suet., Claud., 28): she was by far the greatest favorite with her mistress, ea longe omnium ancillarum erat carissima dominae (after Curt., 3, 12, 6).