Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRE-POS-SESS', v.t. [pre and possess.]

1. To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of. – Dryden.
2. To preoccupy the mind or heart so as to preclude other things; hence, to bias or prejudice. A mind prepossessed with opinions favorable to a person or cause, will not readily admit unfavorable opinions to take possession, nor yield to reasons that disturb the possessors. When a lady has prepossessed the heart or affections of a man, he does not readily listen to suggestions that tend to remove the prepossession. Prepossess is more frequently used in a good sense than prejudice.