Preponderate
(Pre*pon"der*ate), v. i. To exceed in weight; hence, to incline or descend, as the scale of a balance; figuratively, to exceed in influence, power, etc.; hence; to incline to one side; as, the affirmative side preponderated.

That is no just balance in which the heaviest side will not preponderate.
Bp. Wilkins.

Preponderatingly
(Pre*pon"der*a`ting*ly) adv. In a preponderating manner; preponderantly.

Preponderation
(Pre*pon`der*a"tion) n. [L. praeponderatio.] The act or state of preponderating; preponderance; as, a preponderation of reasons. I. Watts.

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

Preposition
(Prep`o*si"tion) n. [L. praepositio, fr. praeponere to place before; prae before + ponere to put, place: cf. F. préposition. See Position, and cf. Provost.]

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.

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

He made a long preposition and oration.
Fabyan.

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

Prepositive
(Pre*pos"i*tive) a. [L. praepositivus: cf. F. prépositif.] (Gram.) Put before; prefixed; as, a prepositive particle.n. A prepositive word. Tooke.

Prepositor
(||Pre*pos"i*tor) n. [NL.] A scholar appointed to inspect other scholars; a monitor. Todd.

Prepositure
(Pre*pos"i*ture) n. [L. praepositura. See Preposition, and cf. Provost.] The office or dignity of a provost; a provostship. Lowth.

Prepossess
(Pre`pos*sess") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prepossessed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Prepossessing.]

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

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.

It created him enemies, and prepossessed the lord general.
Evelyn.

Prepossessing
(Pre`pos*sess"ing) a. Tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner.Pre`pos*sess"ing*ly, adv.

Prepossession
(Pre`pos*ses"sion) n.

1. Preoccupation; prior possession. Hammond.

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.

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