Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Prepossession
Preˊpos-ses′sion
,Noun.
1.
Preoccupation; prior possession.
Hammond.
2.
Preoccupation of the mind by an opinion, or impression, already formed; preconceived opinion; previous impression; bias; – generally, but not always, used in a favorable sense;
“The prejudices and prepossessions of the country.” as, the
. prepossessions
of childhoodSir W. Scott.
Syn. – Bent; bias; inclination; preoccupancy; prejudgment. See
Bent
. Webster 1828 Edition
Prepossession
PREPOSSES'SION
,Noun.
1.
Preconceived opinion; the effect of previous impressions on the mind or heart, in favor or against any person or thing. It is often used in a good sense; sometimes it is equivalent to prejudice, and sometimes a softer name for it. In general, it conveys an idea less odious than prejudice; as the prepossessions of education.Definition 2024
prepossession
prepossession
English
Noun
prepossession (plural prepossessions)
- Preoccupation; having possession beforehand.
- A preconceived opinion, or previous impression; bias, prejudice.
- 1902, William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Folio Society 2008, p. 386:
- The spontaneous intellect of man always defines the divine which it feels in ways that harmonise with its temporary intellectual prepossessions.
- 1902, William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Folio Society 2008, p. 386:
Quotations
- 1791 : I am fully sensible to the greatness of that freedom, which I take with you on the present occasion; a liberty which seemed to me scarcely allowable, when I reflected on that distinguished and dignified station in which you stand, and the almost general prejudice and prepossession, which is so prevalent in the world against those of my complexion. - Letter from Benjamin Banneker to Thomas Jefferson, August 19, 1791
References
- prepossession in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913