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
His talents and accomplishments were of course the cause of this distinction; besides that his personal advantages were such as to prepossess every one in his favor.
From The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 4, November 1, 1851 by Various
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 Gallini, Giovanni-Andrea
She presented me, with great formality, to a youth, whose appearance did not greatly prepossess me in favour of his judgement.
From Ormond, Volume III (of 3) or, The Secret Witness by Brown, Charles Brockden
In fact, my appearance was by no means calculated to prepossess people in my favour.
From The Bible in Spain Vol. 1 [of 2] by Borrow, George Henry
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.
