prepossess
Americanverb (used with object)
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to possess or dominate mentally beforehand, as a prejudice does.
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to prejudice or bias, especially favorably.
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to impress favorably beforehand or at the outset.
verb
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to preoccupy or engross mentally
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to influence in advance for or against a person or thing; prejudice; bias
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to make a favourable impression on beforehand
Etymology
Origin of prepossess
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His aim is to explore the Antarctic coast south of Australia and prepossess it for his dominion.
From Time Magazine Archive
Such as would prepossess our hearers in our favor should be retained and such as would be unpleasant to the majority of people should be trained out of our unconscious use.
From Seed Thoughts for Singers by Frank Herbert Tubbs
The effect of it steals into his manner, and gait, and gives him an air of presenting himself, that is sure to prepossess in his favor.
From A Treatise on the Art of Dancing by Giovanni-Andrea Gallini
This was so contrived, that he might gain time to prepossess the Bishop for his purposes.
From The Autobiography of Madame Guyon by Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon
“But still there have been great acts of cruelty committed; quite enough to prepossess us against you as a body.”
From Newton Forster The Merchant Service by Frederick Marryat
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
