prepossession
/,pri:pə'zeʃn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
He approached the topic with a prepossession that was difficult to challenge.
Definition
- Noun:
- A preconceived opinion or bias: A judgment or belief formed before encountering sufficient evidence or experience, often influencing subsequent perceptions.
- The state of being preoccupied or engrossed: The condition of having one's attention, mind, or feelings deeply occupied or absorbed by something.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Preconceived opinion):
- His prepossession against modern art made him dismiss the exhibition without truly seeing it.
- She tried to approach the interview without any prepossession about the candidate's background.
- Noun (State of preoccupation):
- Her complete prepossession with the project left little time for social activities.
- The king's prepossession in my favor is very valuable.
Advanced Usage
- "To have a prepossession for/against something": To hold a strong, often unexamined, favorable or unfavorable bias.
- The manager had a prepossession for candidates from Ivy League schools.
- "To be in a state of prepossession": To be deeply absorbed or mentally occupied by a subject or feeling.
- His prepossession with financial worries affected his health.
Variants and Related Words
- Prepossess (verb): To influence beforehand, especially to impress favorably.
- Her honest demeanor prepossessed the jury in her favor.
- Prepossessing (adjective): Creating a favorable impression; attractive.
- He has a prepossessing smile that puts people at ease.
Synonyms
- Preconception: An idea or opinion formed beforehand.
- Bias: Inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group.
- Preoccupation: The state of being engrossed in thought.
- Predilection: A preference or special liking for something.
Antonyms
- Impartiality: Equal treatment of all rivals or disputants; fairness.
- Objectivity: The quality of being unbiased and not influenced by personal feelings.
- Indifference: Lack of interest, concern, or sympathy.
Related Phrases
- Free from prepossession: To be unbiased or without preconceived notions.
- A good judge must be free from prepossession.
- Prepossession of mind: A state where the mind is preoccupied or dominated by a particular idea.
- The prepossession of mind caused by grief can be all-consuming.
He approached the topic with a prepossession that was difficult to challenge.
Noun
- an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence
- he did not even try to confirm his preconceptions
- the condition of being prepossessed
- the king's prepossession in my favor is very valuable