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
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The neighbourhood of Badajoz did not prepossess me much in favour of the country which I had just entered.
From The Bible in Spain Vol. 1 [of 2] by Borrow, George Henry
From that time Herbert came to our house daily and knew how to prepossess my sick father so well, that father finally felt a desire for the union himself.
From The Sign of Flame by Werner, E. T. C. (Edward Theodore Chalmers)
And thus much may be safely inferred, viz. that the desire is, at any rate, to prepossess favourably the person approached.
From The Idea of God in Early Religions by Jevons, F. B. (Frank Byron)
His countenance wore a reckless look that did not serve to prepossess him with the people at whose mercy he stood.
From That Affair Next Door by Green, Anna Katharine
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.