Explore Prepossessing in the context of the full text in the works of
Some examples of usage, including by other authors:
…yet the degree of harshness inseparable from Gallic
The Professor Brontë, Charlotte 1846
lineaments was, in his case, softened by a mild blue eye, and a
melancholy, almost suffering, expression of countenance; his physiognomy
was “fine et spirituelle.” I use two French words because they define
better than any English terms the species of intelligence with which his
features were imbued. He was altogether an interesting and prepossessing
personage.
Brass, who over and above his usual prepossessing qualities, had a scratched face, a green shade over one eye, and a hat grievously crushed, stopped short, and looked round with a pitiful smile.
The Old Curiosity Shop Dickens, Charles 1841
Dressed with more than his usual elegance; assuming a gracefulness of
Barnaby Rudge Dickens, Charles 1841
manner, which, though it was the result of long study, sat easily upon
him and became him well; composing his features into their most serene
and prepossessing expression; and setting in short that guard upon
himself, at every point, which denoted that he attached no slight
importance to the impression he was about to make;
She had large black eyes and her nose was slightly aquiline; in profile she had somewhat the look of a bird of prey, but full face she was prepossessing. She smiled a great deal, but her mouth was large and when she smiled she tried to hide her teeth, which were big and rather yellow.
Of Human Bondage Maugham, Somerset 1915
They wore high boots, with their trousers tucked into them, and
Dracula Stoker, Bram 1897
had long black hair and heavy black moustaches. They are very
picturesque, but do not look prepossessing. On the stage they would be
set down at once as some old Oriental band of brigands. They are,
however, I am told, very harmless and rather wanting in natural
self-assertion.
The Author surveyed the beggar and slapped his pockets. Never had he
Boon Wells, Herbert George 1915
seen so miserable a face. It was by no means a prepossessing face,
with its aquiline nose, its sloping brows, its dark, deep, bloodshot
eyes much too close together, its V-shaped, dishonest mouth and
drenched chin-tuft. And yet it was attractively animal and pitiful.
The idea flashed suddenly into the Author’s head: “Why not, instead of
going on, thinking emptily, through this beastly weather–why not take
this man back home now, to the warm, dry study, and give him a hot
drink and something to smoke, and draw him out?”
Lord Belpher returned his gaze. Neither was favourably
A Damsel in Distress Wodehouse, P. G. 1919
impressed by the other. Percy thought he had seen nicer-looking
curates, and the curate thought he had seen more prepossessing
tramps.
Vanderbank, perched aloft on the bench and awaiting developments, had a little the look of some prepossessing criminal who, in court, should have changed places with the judge.
The Awkward Age James, Henry 1899