Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Serving to impress favorably; pleasing.
  • adjective Archaic Causing prejudice.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Predisposing the mind to favor; making a favorable impression; pleasing; attractive: as, a prepossessing address.
  • Synonyms Attractive, taking, winning.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective creating a favorable impression

Etymologies

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Examples

  • It seemed incredible, yet it was true; it was proved to be so to me by his pricking his ears and his attentive look at the mention of the word prepossessing him in relation to the money: Government.

    The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Volume 8 George Meredith 1868

  • It seemed incredible, yet it was true; it was proved to be so to me by his pricking his ears and his attentive look at the mention of the word prepossessing him in relation to the money: Government.

    The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete George Meredith 1868

  • It seemed incredible, yet it was true; it was proved to be so to me by his pricking his ears and his attentive look at the mention of the word prepossessing him in relation to the money: Government.

    Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith George Meredith 1868

  • His face was hardly to be termed prepossessing, but it certainly did not denote the ruthless ferocity which the nature of the task he had undertaken would require, and which he exercised in its accomplishment.

    La Vend�e 2004

  • Simply as a descriptive touch, or with the idea of prepossessing me in favour of Mr. Luzhin?

    Crime and Punishment 2002

  • She was described as prepossessing, "open, confiding, expressing strong feelings on her countenance, but neither hardened in depravity nor capable of cunning."

    Elizabeth Fry Mrs. E. R. Pitman

  • Simply as a descriptive touch, or with the idea of prepossessing me in favour of Mr. Luzhin?

    Chapter IV. Part I 1917

  • She was described as prepossessing, “open, confiding, expressing strong feelings on her countenance, but neither hardened in depravity nor capable of cunning.”

    Elizabeth Fry Pitman, E R 1884

  • The girl and baby disappeared as soon as I saw my father; which was not surprising, for he could not be called a prepossessing half-breed.

    Lazarre Mary Hartwell Catherwood 1874

  • Simply as a descriptive touch, or with the idea of prepossessing me in favour of Mr. Luzhin?

    Prestuplenie i nakazanie. English Fyodor Dostoyevsky 1851

Comments

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  • Go on, reach out and grab those preworries.

    November 28, 2008

  • Having her father's figure and features, the girl was anything but prepossessing.

    Abraham Cahan, The Rise of David Levinsky

    July 26, 2011