What does prepossess mean?
Prepossess is a formal transitive verb meaning to predispose someone in a particular direction or to occupy their attention beforehand. Its best-known use is that of an influence that takes hold before judgement: a speaker prepossesses an audience toward sympathy, a novel prepossesses readers against a character, or an experience prepossesses someone in favour of a place. Because the word contains the prefix pre-, it can also suggest that the mental disposition or attention has been secured before the main event or argument begins. It often carries a slightly literary, old-fashioned tone, especially when it means to predispose, and is less common in everyday speech than bias, predispose, or preoccupy. In older usage it could simply mean to possess or hold something beforehand. Although now uncommon in that older sense, the word remains useful because it captures a distinctly preparatory stage of persuasion: a state of mind shaped in advance by information, impressions, or expectations.
verbTo predispose or incline someone, especially in favour of or against something; also, to occupy someone's attention beforehand.
- To predispose or incline someone, especially in favour of or against something.
- To occupy or engage someone's attention beforehand, usually with admiration or interest.
- Archaic: to possess or hold something beforehand.
"The storyteller's expressive voice and vivid descriptions prepossessed the entire audience."
"The grand old house and its intriguing history prepossessed her from the moment she saw the faded photographs."
"Reviews of the adaptation prepossessed many critics against the film before its release."
A mind can be possessed before the argument even begins—and that is exactly what “prepossess” describes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prepossess come from?
The word dates from the early 17th century and comes from Latin praepossessus, meaning “possessed beforehand.” It was formed from prae-, meaning “before,” and the Latin verb possidere, meaning “to take possession of.” Its older literal sense developed into the modern sense of predisposing or influencing someone's mind in advance.
Related word forms
How prepossess is actually used
The word is formal and somewhat old-fashioned, especially in the sense of predisposing someone. It is normally transitive and takes a person or audience as its object. British and American usage do not differ significantly.
Easily confused with prepossess
Preoccupy means to engage or absorb someone's attention, whereas prepossess more often means to predispose them toward a particular attitude or opinion.