prepossess[verb]Synonyms: preengage, preoccupy, prejudice, bias, influence
Related Words: busy,
engage,
engross,
immerse,
occupy,
soak,
absorb,
imbue,
involve [TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲
prepossess verb trans. [pri:pǝ'zɛs] E17.[from PRE- 1 + POSSESS, prob. after medieval Latin prepossessus seized beforehand.]1. Take or have prior possession of;
refl. possess oneself
of beforehand; in
pass., have possession
of beforehand.
E17-M18.■ R. L'Estrange Without more ado they prepossess'd themselves of the Temple. ■ R. South Hope is that which..prepossesses a future good.2. Cause (a person) to be imbued
with or strongly affected beforehand
by a feeling or idea. Formerly also, cause to think
that.
M17.■ J. Austen Strongly prepossessed that neither she nor her daughters were such kind of women. ■ J. Keble The Creed..had prepossessed them with these truths, before ever they thought of proving them.3. Influence (a person) in advance in favour of or against a person or thing. Now chiefly, impress favourably beforehand.
M17.■ E. A. Poe An attempt was made..to prepossess the public against his 'Classical Dictionary'. [TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲