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Webster 1913 Edition

Prepossess

Preˊpos-sess′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Prepossessed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Prepossessing
.]
1.
To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of.
Dryden.
2.
To preoccupy, as the mind or heart, so as to preclude other things; hence, to bias or prejudice; to give a previous inclination to, for or against anything; esp., to induce a favorable opinion beforehand, or at the outset.
It created him enemies, and
prepossessed
the lord general.
Evelyn.

Webster 1828 Edition

Prepossess

PREPOSSESS'

,
Verb.
T.
[pre and possess.] To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of.
1.
To preoccupy the mind or heart so as to preclude other things; hence, to bias or prejudice. A mind prepossessed with opinions favorable to a person or cause, will not readily admit unfavorable opinions to take possession, nor yield to reasons that disturb the possessors. When a lady has prepossessed the heart or affections of a man, he does not readily listen to suggestions that tend to remove the prepossession. Prepossess is more frequently used in a good sense than prejudice.

Definition 2024

prepossess

prepossess

English

Verb

prepossess ‎(third-person singular simple present prepossesses, present participle prepossessing, simple past and past participle prepossessed)

  1. To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of.
  2. To preoccupy, as the mind or heart, so as to preclude other things; hence, to bias or prejudice; to give a previous inclination to, for or against anything; especially, to induce a favorable opinion beforehand, or at the outset.
    • 1749, John Cleland, Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, Part 2
      I was no novice in these matters, since he had taken me out of a common bawdy-house, nor had I said one thing to prepossess him of my virginity
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 5, in The Celebrity:
      Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. […] She looked around expectantly, and recognizing Mrs. Cooke's maid […] Miss Thorn greeted her with a smile which greatly prepossessed us in her favor.

Translations

References

  • prepossess in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

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