prepossess means chiefly followed by by or with: to preoccupy (someone) in an emotional or mental way, so as to preclude other things. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 85 out of 100.
Why this word is great
PREPOSSESS — [Verb] To occupy the mind or feelings beforehand, usually with a favorable impression. From the English prefix pre- ("before") + possess ("to occupy or control"), modeled on Late Latin prepossessus ("seized beforehand"). Unlike prejudice, which implies a settled, often negative judgment, or predispose, which suggests an inherent, passive leaning, to prepossess is to be actively and winsomely charmed into a verdict. It is the faint, clean scent of rosemary rising from a stranger's sleeve, the persuasive quiet of a well-appointed room, or the first, perfect chord of a piece played in the dark—a quiet capture of the heart that makes all subsequent evidence seem like corroboration, a tenancy established before reason has even taken its seat.
verb
- Chiefly followed by by or with: to preoccupy (someone) in an emotional or mental way, so as to preclude other things.“[I]ndeed the Legate [Alberic of Ostia] came not vvith a virgin-judgement, but raviſhed vvith prejudice; being prepoſſeſſed vvith this intent to diſpoſſeſſe him [Rodolphus, or Ralph of Domfront] of his place.”
- To cause (someone) to have a previous inclination against, for, or to something; to bias or prejudice; specifically, to induce in (someone) a favourable opinion beforehand, or at the outset.“So Juſtice, which ſhould runne downe like a ſtreame, though it ariſeth out of a pure Fountaine, out of the breaſt of a ſincere and incorrupted Judge; yet if formerly it hath paſſed through the Mines of Gold and Silver, I meane, through bad Servants, who have taken bribes to prepoſſeſſe the Judge their Maſter with the prejudice of falſe informations, Juſtice hereby may be ſtrangely perverted and co”
- To cause (someone) to think a certain way.“[T]his brief Inventory I have here given as preparatory to vvhat follovvs, and to pre-poſſeſs the Reader, 1. That a natural Indagation according to the light of natural Reaſon touching the Origination of ſuch a Creature as this, is no contemptible or unvvorthy enquiry.”
- To occupy or possess (something) beforehand.“All paſſages out of their campe Martius [Gaius Lucius Marcius Septimus] hath prepoſſeſſed, ſo that there is no vvay to eſcape, ſaue by leaping dovvne the Rampart: […]”
- Chiefly followed by of or with: to cause (oneself) to obtain possession of something beforehand, or ahead of someone else.“to prepossess oneself of land”