What is "by one's favor"

favor \fa"vor\ (f[=a]"v[~e]r), n. [Written also favour.] [OF. favor, F. faveur, L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bh[=a]vaya to further, foster, causative of bh[=u] to become, be. Cf. Be. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is prob. for favel a horse. See 2d Favel.]

1. Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition; kindness; good will.

   Hath crawled into the favor of the king.
   --Shak.

2. The act of countenancing, or the condition of being countenanced, or regarded propitiously; support; promotion; befriending.

   But found no favor in his lady's eyes.
   --Dryden.

   And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
   --Luke ii. 52.

3. A kind act or office; kindness done or granted; benevolence shown by word or deed; an act of grace or good will, as distinct from justice or remuneration.

   Beg one favor at thy gracious hand.
   --Shak.

4. Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.

   I could not discover the lenity and favor of this sentence.
   --Swift.

5. The object of regard; person or thing favored.

   All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man, His chief delight and favor.
   --Milton.

6. A gift or present; something bestowed as an evidence of good will; a token of love; a knot of ribbons; something worn as a token of affection; as, a marriage favor is a bunch or knot of white ribbons or white flowers worn at a wedding.

   Wear thou this favor for me, and stick it in thy cap.
   --Shak.

7. Appearance; look; countenance; face. [Obs.]

   This boy is fair, of female favor.
   --Shak.

8. (Law) Partiality; bias.
   --Bouvier.

9. A letter or epistle; -- so called in civility or compliment; as, your favor of yesterday is received.

10. pl. Love locks. [Obs.]
    --Wright.

    Challenge to the favor or Challenge for favor (Law), the challenge of a juror on grounds not sufficient to constitute a principal challenge, but sufficient to give rise to a probable suspicion of favor or bias, such as acquaintance, business relation, etc. See Principal challenge, under Challenge.

    In favor of, upon the side of; favorable to; for the advantage of.

    In favor with, favored, countenanced, or encouraged by.

    To curry favor [see the etymology of Favor, above], to seek to gain favor by flattery, caresses, kindness, or officious civilities.

    With one's favor, or By one's favor, with leave; by kind permission.

    But, with your favor, I will treat it here.
    --Dryden.

    Syn: Kindness; countenance; patronage; support; lenity; grace; gift; present; benefit.