Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Prejudice?

\Prej"u*dice\, n. [F. pr['e]judice, L. praejudicium; prae before + judicium judgment. See {Prejudicate}, {Judicial}.] 1. Foresight. [Obs.] Naught might hinder his quick prejudize. --Spenser. 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. Though often misled by prejudice and passion, he was emphatically an honest man. --Macaulay. 3. (Law) A bias on the part of judge, juror, or witness which interferes with fairness of judgment. 4. Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment. --Locke. England and France might, through their amity, Breed him some prejudice. --Shak. Syn: Prejudgment; prepossession; bias; harm; hurt; damage; detriment; mischief; disadvantage.
\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. Suffer not any beloved study to prejudice your mind so far as to despise all other learning. --I. Watts 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. Seek how may prejudice the foe. --Shak