a. 1. Holding or held formerly in possession. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Preoccupied; prepossessed; preëngaged. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Not extremely forepossessed with prejudice. Bp. Sanderson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. préposer; pref. pré- (L. prae before) + poser. See Pose. ] To place or set before; to prefix. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praepositio, fr. praeponere to place before; prae before + ponere to put, place: cf. F. préposition. See Position, and cf. Provost. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Gram.) A word employed to connect a noun or a pronoun, in an adjectival or adverbial sense, with some other word; a particle used with a noun or pronoun (in English always in the objective case) to make a phrase limiting some other word; -- so called because usually placed before the word with which it is phrased; as, a bridge of iron; he comes from town; it is good for food; he escaped by running. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A proposition; an exposition; a discourse. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He made a long preposition and oration. Fabyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. prépositionnel. ] Of or pertaining to a preposition; of the nature of a preposition. Early. -- Prep`o*si"tion*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. praepositivus: cf. F. prépositif. ] (Gram.) Put before; prefixed; as, a prepositive particle. -- n. A prepositive word. Tooke. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. ] A scholar appointed to inspect other scholars; a monitor. Todd. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praepositura. See Preposition, and cf. Provost. ] The office or dignity of a provost; a provostship. Lowth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prepossessed p. pr. & vb. n. Prepossessing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

It created him enemies, and prepossessed the lord general. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner. -- Pre`pos*sess"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Preoccupation; prior possession. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Preoccupation of the mind by an opinion, or impression, already formed; preconceived opinion; previous impression; bias; -- generally, but not always, used in a favorable sense; as, the prepossessions of childhood. “The prejudices and prepossessions of the country.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Bent; bias; inclination; preoccupancy; prejudgment. See Bent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who possesses, or occupies, previously. R. Brady. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praeposterus; prae before + posterus coming after, latter. See Posterior. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Having that first which ought to be last; inverted in order. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The method I take may be censured as preposterous, because I thus treat last of the antediluvian earth, which was first in the order of nature. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Contrary to nature or reason; not adapted to the end; utterly and glaringly foolish; unreasonably absurd; perverted. “Most preposterous conclusions.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Preposterous ass, that never read so far! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Absurd; perverted; wrong; irrational; foolish; monstrous. See Absurd. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pre*pos"ter*ous*ly, adv. -Pre*pos"ter*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Prepositor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Repose. ] 1. The act or state of reposing; as, the reposal of a trust. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That on which one reposes. [ Obs. ] Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Reliance. [ Obs. ] John Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Reposed p. pr. & vb. n. Reposing. ] [ F. reposer; L. pref. re- re- + pausare to pause. See Pause, Pose, v. ] 1. To cause to stop or to rest after motion; hence, to deposit; to lay down; to lodge; to reposit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

But these thy fortunes let us straight repose
In this divine cave's bosom. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pebbles reposed in those cliffs amongst the earth . . . are left behind. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To lay at rest; to cause to be calm or quiet; to compose; to rest, -- often reflexive; as, to repose one's self on a couch. [ 1913 Webster ]

All being settled and reposed, the lord archbishop did present his majesty to the lords and commons. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

After the toil of battle to repose
Your wearied virtue. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To place, have, or rest; to set; to intrust. [ 1913 Webster ]

The king reposeth all his confidence in thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To lie at rest; to rest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Within a thicket I reposed. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Figuratively, to remain or abide restfully without anxiety or alarms. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is upon these that the soul may repose. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To lie; to be supported; as, trap reposing on sand. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To lie; recline; couch; rest; sleep; settle; lodge; abide. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. repos. See Repose, v. ] 1. A lying at rest; sleep; rest; quiet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shake off the golden slumber of repose. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Rest of mind; tranquillity; freedom from uneasiness; also, a composed manner or deportment. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Poetic) A rest; a pause. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Fine Arts) That harmony or moderation which affords rest for the eye; -- opposed to the scattering and division of a subject into too many unconnected parts, and also to anything which is overstrained; as, a painting may want repose. [ 1913 Webster ]

Angle of repose (Physics), the inclination of a plane at which a body placed on the plane would remain at rest, or if in motion would roll or slide down with uniform velocity; the angle at which the various kinds of earth will stand when abandoned to themselves. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Rest; recumbency; reclination; ease; quiet; quietness; tranquillity; peace. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Composed; calm; tranquil; at rest. Bacon. -- Re*pos"ed*ly adv. -- Re*pos"ed*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of repose; quiet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who reposes. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Reposited; p. pr. & vb. n. Repositing. ] [ L. repositus, p. p. of reponere to put back; pref. re- re- + ponere to put. See Position. ] To cause to rest or stay; to lay away; to lodge, as for safety or preservation; to place; to store. [ 1913 Webster ]

Others reposit their young in holes. Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. repositio. ] The act of repositing; a laying up. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Surg.) An instrument employed for replacing a displaced organ or part. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. repositorium, repostorium: cf. OF. repositoire. ] A place where things are or may be reposited, or laid up, for safety or preservation; a depository. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To possess again; as, to repossess the land. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically: To take possession of, for failure of the possessor to make payments owed for purchase of; -- used of real estate subject to mortgage payments and of other objects purchased on a time-payment plan, which may be taken back (repossessed) by the original vendor if the payments are not made on time. [ PJC ]

To repossess one's self of (something), to acquire again (something lost). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or the state of possessing again. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Rest; quiet. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the reposure of most soft content. Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]