SAT Vocabulary: Understanding ‘Prepossession’
Learn about ‘prepossession’, an SAT vocabulary word referring to preconceived ideas or opinions. This video covers its definition, usage, synonyms, antonyms, and common errors to help you prepare for the SAT and improve your language skills.
Imagine walking into a job interview, your mind already filled with assumptions about the interviewer based solely on their name.
This common experience illustrates today’s SAT vocabulary word: prepossession. Prepossession, spelled P-R-E-P-O-S-S-E-S-S-I-O-N, is a noun that plays a significant role in how we perceive and interact with the world around us.
Word type: Prepossession is a noun.
Meaning: Prepossession refers to a preconceived idea or opinion, often formed without conscious thought or full understanding.
It’s an attitude or belief that influences how a person thinks or behaves, typically formed before encountering the actual subject or situation.
Word history: The term prepossession has its roots in the mid-seventeenth century. It combines the prefix pre, meaning before, with possession, which in this context refers to the act of holding an idea or belief.
Thus, prepossession literally means to possess an idea beforehand.
Antonyms: Some antonyms for prepossession include open-mindedness, impartiality, and objectivity.
These terms represent the opposite of having preconceived notions or biases.
Synonyms: Synonyms for prepossession include bias, preconception, prejudice, and predisposition.
These words all relate to the idea of having predetermined thoughts or feelings about something.
Examples use in sentences:
Here are three sentences that demonstrate the use of prepossession in context: One. Her prepossession against spicy food prevented her from trying the award-winning curry.
Two. The scientist worked hard to overcome his prepossession and approach the experiment with an open mind.
Three. The jury was instructed to set aside any prepossessions they might have about the defendant’s appearance.
Common errors in use: A common mistake when using prepossession is confusing it with the word preposition, which is a part of speech used to show relationships between words in a sentence.
Another error is using prepossession interchangeably with prejudice. While they are related, prepossession is generally less negative and can sometimes even be positive.
In summary, prepossession refers to a preconceived idea or opinion that can influence our thoughts and actions.
By understanding this word, you can become more aware of your own prepossessions and work towards more objective thinking.
As you prepare for the SAT, remember that recognizing and questioning your prepossessions can lead to more accurate comprehension and analysis of text passages.
