Hypertext Webster Gateway: "prepossess"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Prepossess \Pre`pos*sess"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prepossessed};
p. pr. & vb. n. {Prepossessing}.]
1. To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous
possession of. --Dryden.
2. To preoccupy, as the mind or heart, so as to preclude
other things; hence, to bias or prejudice; to give a
previous inclination to, for or against anything; esp., to
induce a favorable opinion beforehand, or at the outset.
It created him enemies, and prepossessed the lord
general. --Evelyn.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
prepossess
v 1: possess beforehand
2: cause to be preoccupied; "The idea of his failure
prepossesses him"
3: make a positive impression (on someone) beforehand: "A
prepossessing appearance"
4: influence (somebody's) opinion in advance [syn: {prejudice}]
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