[syn: prejudice, prepossess]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Prejudice \Prej"u*dice\, n. [F. pr['e]judice, L. praejudicium;
prae before + judicium judgment. See Prejudicate,
Judicial.]
1. Foresight. [Obs.]
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Naught might hinder his quick prejudize. --Spenser.
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2. An opinion or judgment formed without due examination;
prejudgment; a leaning toward one side of a question from
other considerations than those belonging to it; an
unreasonable predilection for, or objection against,
anything; especially, an opinion or leaning adverse to
anything, without just grounds, or before sufficient
knowledge.
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Though often misled by prejudice and passion, he was
emphatically an honest man. --Macaulay.
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3. (Law) A bias on the part of judge, juror, or witness which
interferes with fairness of judgment.
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4. Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment. --Locke.
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England and France might, through their amity,
Breed him some prejudice. --Shak.
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Syn: Prejudgment; prepossession; bias; harm; hurt; damage;
detriment; mischief; disadvantage.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Prejudice \Prej"u*dice\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudiced; p.
pr. & vb. n. Prejudicing.] [Cf. F. pr['e]judicier. See
Prejudice, n.]
1. To cause to have prejudice; to prepossess with opinions
formed without due knowledge or examination; to bias the
mind of, by hasty and incorrect notions; to give an
unreasonable bent to, as to one side or the other of a
cause; as, to prejudice a critic or a juryman.
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Suffer not any beloved study to prejudice your mind
so far as to despise all other learning. --I. Watts
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2. To obstruct or injure by prejudices, or by previous bias
of the mind; hence, generally, to hurt; to damage; to
injure; to impair; as, to prejudice a good cause.
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Seek how may prejudice the foe. --Shak
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
prejudice
n 1: a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an
issue or situation [syn: bias, prejudice,
preconception]
v 1: disadvantage by prejudice
2: influence (somebody's) opinion in advance [syn: prejudice,
prepossess]
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):
PREJUDICE, n. A vagrant opinion without visible means of support.