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prepossess

American  
[pree-puh-zes] / ˌpri pəˈzɛs /

verb (used with object)

  1. to possess or dominate mentally beforehand, as a prejudice does.

  2. to prejudice or bias, especially favorably.

  3. to impress favorably beforehand or at the outset.


prepossess British  
/ ˌpriːpəˈzɛs /

verb

  1. to preoccupy or engross mentally

  2. to influence in advance for or against a person or thing; prejudice; bias

  3. to make a favourable impression on beforehand

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of prepossess

First recorded in 1605–15; pre- + possess

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

He saw two young women in black;—but there was nothing to prepossess him about either of them.

From Ralph the Heir by Trollope, Anthony

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

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)

This was regarded as a threat, and did not help to prepossess the members favorably in regard to the feeling with which the king was to meet them.

From Charles I Makers of History by Abbott, Jacob

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