preferred thing, n.All

A Preferred thing (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠like a courtier: at a royal court no one calls the king himself \"promoted,\" only those whose rank comes second to his.