prepossessing

American  

[pree-puh-zes-ing] / ˌpri pəˈzɛs ɪŋ /

adjective

1. that impresses favorably; engaging or attractive.

   a confident and prepossessing young man.

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prepossessing British  

/ ˌpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ /

adjective

1. creating a favourable impression; attractive

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Other Word Forms

• prepossessingly
  adverb
• prepossessingness
  noun
• unprepossessing
  adjective
• unprepossessingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of prepossessing

First recorded in 1635–45; prepossess + -ing ²

Explanation

If someone's prepossessing, they make a great first impression. You may be dreading the first day of school, until you meet your prepossessing new teacher. People and things can be prepossessing because they're so attractive, charismatic, or otherwise immediately appealing. Your friend's huge, fancy new house may seem quite prepossessing, for example, while your dog is anything but prepossessing after rolling in the mud. In fact, you might call him unprepossessing, which is much more commonly used than its antonym. Prepossessing is from the verb prepossess, "to possess a person beforehand with a feeling or idea."

Example Sentences

Prepossessing young Macdonald Carey is the editress' eventual sweetheart.

From Time Magazine Archive

Prepossessing though her appearance and address were, yet I hesitated.

From A Queen's Error by Curties, Henry

Prepossessing in appearance, manly in bearing, musical in speech, fragrant in character, Angus might well wake the echoes of even our Margaret's noble heart.

From St. Cuthbert's by Knowles, Robert E.