Sentence:  Mr. Clifton would have <WSD>preferred</WSD> death and bankruptcy to having his son stay with his wife 's people without contributing to his and his family 's upkeep , and besides that there were the things that had to be bought for the baby , milk and orange juice and vitamins and soap , just plain soap . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  select as an alternative over another