Prepossess /(?)/

Pre·pos·sess

Prepossess

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Prepossessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Prepossessing

  1. To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of.
  2. To preoccupy, as the mind or heart, so as to preclude other things; hence, to bias or prejudice; to give a previous inclination to, for or against anything; esp., to induce a favorable opinion beforehand, or at the outset.
    It created him enemies, and prepossessed the lord general.