Hypertext Webster Gateway: "bias"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Bias \Bi"as\ (b[imac]"as), n.; pl. {Biases} (-[e^]z). [F.
biasis, perh. fr. LL. bifax two-faced; L. bis + facies face.
See {Bi-}, and cf. {Face}.]
1. A weight on the side of the ball used in the game of
bowls, or a tendency imparted to the ball, which turns it
from a straight line.
Being ignorant that there is a concealed bias within
the spheroid, which will . . . swerve away. --Sir W.
Scott.
2. A leaning of the mind; propensity or prepossession toward
an object or view, not leaving the mind indifferent; bent;
inclination.
Strong love is a bias upon the thoughts. --South.
Morality influences men's lives, and gives a bias to
all their actions. --Locke.
3. A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (as
the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference.
4. A slant; a diagonal; as, to cut cloth on the bias.
Syn: Prepossession; prejudice; partiality; inclination. See
{Bent}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Bias \Bi"as\, a.
1. Inclined to one side; swelled on one side. [Obs.] --Shak.
2. Cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Bias \Bi"as\, adv.
In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally; as,
to cut cloth bias.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Bias \Bi"as\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Biased} (b[imac]"ast); p. pr.
& vb. n. {Biasing}.]
To incline to one side; to give a particular direction to; to
influence; to prejudice; to prepossess.
Me it had not biased in the one direction, nor should
it have biased any just critic in the counter
direction. --De Quincey.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
bias
adj : slanting diagonally across the grain of a fabric; "a bias
fold"
n 1: a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an
issue or situation [syn: {prejudice}, {preconception}]
2: a line or cut across a fabric that is not at right angles to
a side [syn: {diagonal}]
v 1: influence in an unfair way; "you are biasing my choice by
telling me yours"
2: cause to be biased [syn: {predetermine}]
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