prepossession

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per- Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i? Proto-Italic *prai Proto-Italic *prai- Latin prae-lbor. Middle English pre- English pre- English possession English prepossession From pre- + possession.

1. A preoccupation; having possession beforehand.

   “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.”

   “It opens his designs to his family, it introduces you among them, it diffuses through the party those pleasantest feelings of our nature, eager curiosity and warm prepossession.”

2. A preconceived opinion, or previous impression; bias, prejudice.

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