prepossessingadj.
/ˌpriːpəˈzɛsɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌpripəˈzɛsɪŋ/ΚΠ
a1635 R. Sibbes Bowels Opened (1639) 495 Empty the soule of all sinne and prepossessing thoughts.
1642 H. More Ψυχωδια Platonica sig. E8v I'll purge out the strong steem Of prepossessing prejudice.
1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks III. Misc. iii. i. 154 A very prepossessing Circumstance against our Author.
1754 J. Edwards Careful Enq. Freedom of Will iii. vi. 182 Every pre-possessing fix'd Bias on the Mind brings a Degree of moral Inability for the contrary.
1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer ii. 22 This aukward prepossessing visage of mine.
1806 R. Polwhele Eng. Orator in Poems I. 70 Thy prepossessing cause shall meet Its just redress.
2. That predisposes favourably; giving a favourable first impression; attractive, pleasing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [adjective]
gracious1340
glorious skinnyc1400
drawing1435
gracefulc1449
attrayant1477
well-favoured1539
alluring1567
graceda1586
attracting1589
attractive1592
winning1596
appealing1598
taking1603
allicient1613
enchantinga1616
motive1615
temptinga1616
allurant1631
catchinga1640
gaining1642
canny1643
charmful1656
charming1664
mignon1671
disarminga1718
prepossessing1737
seducing1749
seductive176.
eye-catching1770
sweet1779
catchy1784
attaching1785
engaging1816
cute1834
cunning1843
taky1854
cynosural1855
smart1860
fetching1880
seductious1883
fruity1900
barry1923
hot stuff1928
swoony1934
dishy1961
dolly1964
jiggy1996
aegyo2007
1737 J. Hewitt Tutor for Beaus 3 That free, open, affecting, prepossessing , graceful, and excellent Air.
1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom II. xl. 33 He was certainly a personage of a very prepossessing mien, his manners were engaging.
1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London III. ii. 92 Nature had bestowed upon him a fair and prepossessing exterior.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby iv. 24 Squeers's appearance was not prepossessing.
1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel III. ix. vi. 34 Its expression was eminently gentle and prepossessing.
1927 Travel Nov. 15/3 He is shy, and muttering, and neither prepossessing nor cheerful, but he turns out quite decent.
1953 M. Kennedy Troy Chimneys (new ed.) 34 We all had the bright eyes, the glow of perfect health, which is so particularly prepossessing in young people.
2002 D. F. Lott Amer. Bison 68 It's the story of a small, not particularly prepossessing member of the cow family that conquered the north's rigors.
Derivatives
prepoˈssessingly adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [adverb]
likinglya1387
graciouslyc1400
prettilyc1450
alluringly1561
gracefully1583
attractively1604
takingly1607
charmingly1611
enchantinglya1616
winningly1663
engagingly1694
winsomely17..
enticingly1720
attractingly1753
prepossessingly1794
sweetly1840
temptingly1878
fetchingly1889
1794 I. Kelly Madeline 87 Appearances were prepossessingly against her.
1866 Times 17 Dec. 5/5 Her voice is good, her style refined, and her manner prepossessingly unobtrusive.
1993 U. Kultermann Hist. of Art Hist. 107 Who gazes so..prepossessingly from Franz von Lenbach's portrait.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > [noun]
drawingc1300
favourc1300
gracea1382
graciousnessa1425
likingnessc1450
allurement1548
allurance1574
seemliness1577
gracefulnessa1586
blandishment1594
attractiveness1622
takingness1652
engagingness1727
winningness1727
temptingness1802
cuteness1807
attachingness1808
winsomeness1825
beaux yeux1828
prepossessingness1876
enchantingness1879
aegyo1997
1876 Contemp. Rev. 27 390 That which has an air of consummate truth and likelihood, the prepossessingness of that which has this air.
1883 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma (new ed.) Pref. p. xi His prepossessingness, his grace and truth.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1635