We prefer to be so (7)

I believe the answer is:

partial

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'so' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for partial that I've seen before include "Incomplete; biassed" , "Showing favouritism" , "Not complete or whole" , "Not complete or total, maybe an eclipse" , "Fragmentary" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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