prepossession

1 the condition of being prepossessed; "the king's prepossession in my favor is very valuable"

2 an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence; "he did not even try to confirm his preconceptions" [syn: preconception, parti pris, preconceived opinion, preconceived idea, preconceived notion]

English

Etymology

From pre- + possession.

Pronunciation

• a UK /pɹiːpəˈzɛʃən/

Noun

1. Preoccupation; having possession beforehand.
2. A preconceived opinion, or previous impression; bias, prejudice.
   • 1902, William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Folio Society 2008, p. 386:

     The spontaneous intellect of man always defines the divine which it feels in ways that harmonise with its temporary intellectual prepossessions.

Quotations

• 1791 : I am fully sensible to the greatness of that freedom, which I take with you on the present occasion; a liberty which seemed to me scarcely allowable, when I reflected on that distinguished and dignified station in which you stand, and the almost general prejudice and prepossession, which is so prevalent in the world against those of my complexion. - Letter from Benjamin Banneker to Thomas Jefferson, August 19, 1791

References

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