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prepossessing

 - 5 dictionary results

pre⋅pos⋅sess⋅ing

  [pree-puh-zes-ing]
Use prepossessing in a Sentence
–adjective
that impresses favorably; engaging or attractive: a confident and prepossessing young man.
Origin:
1635–45; prepossess + -ing 2

Related forms:
pre⋅pos⋅sess⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
pre⋅pos⋅sess⋅ing⋅ness, noun

pre⋅pos⋅sess

  [pree-puh-zes]
–verb (used with object)
1. to possess or dominate mentally beforehand, as a prejudice does.
2. to prejudice or bias, esp. favorably.
3. to impress favorably beforehand or at the outset.
Origin:
1605–15; pre- + possess
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To prepossessing
pre·pos·sess   (prē'pə-zěs')   
tr.v.   pre·pos·sessed, pre·pos·sess·ing, pre·pos·sess·es

  1. To preoccupy the mind of to the exclusion of other thoughts or feelings.

    1. To influence beforehand against or in favor of someone or something; prejudice.

    2. To impress favorably in advance.

pre·pos·sess·ing   (prē'pə-zěs'ĭng)   
adj.  

  1. Serving to impress favorably; pleasing: a prepossessing appearance.

  2. Archaic Causing prejudice.

pre'pos·sess'ing·ly adv., pre'pos·sess'ing·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

prepossess 
1614, "to get possession of beforehand," from pre- + possess (q.v.). Meaning "to possess (a person) beforehand with a feeling, notion, etc." is from 1639; specifically, "to cause (someone) to have a favorable opinion of something" (1647). Prepossessing is from 1642 in sense of "causing prejudice;" opposite meaning "causing agreeable first impression" first recorded 1805.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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