prepossess — English Dictionary

Verb

1. Chiefly followed by by or with: to preoccupy (someone) in an emotional or mental way, so as to preclude other things.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   [I]ndeed the Legate [Alberic of Ostia] came not vvith a virgin-judgement, but raviſhed vvith prejudice; being prepoſſeſſed vvith this intent to diſpoſſeſſe him [Rodolphus, or Ralph of Domfront] of his place.

   A ſurer ſigne of his loſt ſhame he could not have given, then ſeeking thus unſeaſonably to prepoſſeſſe Men of his modeſty.

   […] I vvas no novice in theſe matters, ſince he had taken me out of a common bavvdy-houſe: nor had I ſaid one thing to prepoſſeſs him of my virginity; […]

2. To cause (someone) to have a previous inclination against, for, or to something; to bias or prejudice; specifically, to induce in (someone) a favourable opinion beforehand, or at the outset.

   Usage

   • broadly
   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (3)

   So Juſtice, which ſhould runne downe like a ſtreame, though it ariſeth out of a pure Fountaine, out of the breaſt of a ſincere and incorrupted Judge; yet if formerly it hath paſſed through the Mines of Gold and Silver, I meane, through bad Servants, who have taken bribes to prepoſſeſſe the Judge their Maſter with the prejudice of falſe informations, Juſtice hereby may be ſtrangely perverted and corrupted.

   M. Krempe was a little squat man, with a gruff voice and a repulsive countenance; the teacher, therefore, did not prepossess me in favour of his doctrine. Besides, I had a contempt for the uses of modern natural philosophy.

   Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. […] She looked around expectantly, and recognizing Mrs. Cooke's maid, who had stepped forward to relieve hers of the shawls, Miss Thorn greeted her with a smile which greatly prepossessed us in her favor.

3. To cause (someone) to think a certain way.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   [T]his brief Inventory I have here given as preparatory to vvhat follovvs, and to pre-poſſeſs the Reader, 1. That a natural Indagation according to the light of natural Reaſon touching the Origination of ſuch a Creature as this, is no contemptible or unvvorthy enquiry.

   VVith partial eye vve're apt to ſee / The man of noble pedigree. / VVe're prepoſſeſt my lord inherits / In ſome degree his grandſire's merits; / For thoſe vve find upon record, / But find him nothing but my lord.

   […] Fanny and Mrs. Ferrars were both strongly prepossessed that neither she nor her daughters were such kind of women as Fanny would like to associate with.

4. To occupy or possess (something) beforehand.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   All paſſages out of their campe Martius [Gaius Lucius Marcius Septimus] hath prepoſſeſſed, ſo that there is no vvay to eſcape, ſaue by leaping dovvne the Rampart: […]

   Hope is that vvhich antedates, and prepoſſeſſes a future good; that ſets it in the vievv of the vvill, vvhich alone puts all the faculties in motion.

5. Chiefly followed by of or with: to cause (oneself) to obtain possession of something beforehand, or ahead of someone else.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Reflexive
   • Transitive

   Examples

   to prepossess oneself of land

Verb

1. possess beforehand

   Broader terms

   ownhavepossess

2. cause to be preoccupied

   Broader terms

   preoccupy

   Examples

   The idea of his failure prepossesses him

3. make a positive impression (on someone) beforehand

   Broader terms

   impress

   Examples

   A prepossessing appearance

4. influence (somebody's) opinion in advance

   Synonyms

   prejudice

   Broader terms

   influenceact uponwork