Favoured (9)
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">favoured</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">('prefer' can be a synonym of 'favour')</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for preferred that I've seen before include "choice" , "Chose before others" , "singled out" , "Was partial to" , "Liked better" .)
(Other definitions for sided that I've seen before include "Showed solidarity (with)" , "Took part with person in a dispute" , "Allied oneself (with one party)" .)
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">favoured</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for blessed that I've seen before include "darned" , "in heaven" , "Bedless (anag.)" , "Happy; beatified" , "Consecrated" .)