prepossess
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to possess or dominate mentally beforehand, as a prejudice does.
-
to prejudice or bias, especially favorably.
-
to impress favorably beforehand or at the outset.
verb
-
to preoccupy or engross mentally
-
to influence in advance for or against a person or thing; prejudice; bias
-
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
Those who have nothing particular about them, excepting being noblemen--and it does prepossess people--have married the most beautiful girls.
From Withered Leaves. Vol. I. (of III) A Novel by Gottschall, Rudolf von
Prepossess′ing, tending to prepossess in one's favour: making a favourable impression.—adv.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various
The curb-chain will probably be too tight, also the throat-lash; if so, loosen both, and with your own hands; it is a pleasant way of making acquaintance, and may perhaps prepossess him in your favour.
From Riding Recollections, 5th ed. by Whyte-Melville, G. J. (George John)
Neither did the puff preliminary, which heralded the appearance of this volume, prepossess us strongly in its favour.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846 by Various
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.
