| 释义 |
prepoˈssessing, ppl. a.
[f. prec. + -ing2.]
That prepossesses.
1. Biasing; causing prejudice.
1642H. More Song of Soul ii. i. i. xxii, I'll purge out the strong steem Of prepossessing prejudice. 1711Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) III. Misc. iii. i. 154 A very prepossessing Circumstance against our Author. 1754Edwards Freed. Will iii. vi. (1762) 182 Every pre-possessing fix'd Bias on the Mind brings a Degree of moral Inability for the contrary. 1773Goldsm. Stoops to Conq. ii. i, This awkward prepossessing visage of mine.
2. spec. That predisposes favourably; causing an agreeable first impression; attractive, pleasing.
1805T. S. Surr Winter in Lond. (1806) III. 92 Nature had bestowed upon him a fair and prepossessing exterior. 1838Dickens Nich. Nick. iv, Squeers's appearance was not prepossessing. 1853Lytton My Novel ix. vi, Its expression was eminently gentle and prepossessing.
Hence prepoˈssessingly adv., prepoˈssessingness.
1819Blackw. Mag. V. 681 A way prepossessingly earnest. 1876Contemp. Rev. XXVII. 390 That which has an air of consummate truth and likelihood, the prepossessingness of that which has this air. 1883M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma Pref. 11 His prepossessingness, his grace and truth. |