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The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section P and Q · Project Gutenberg — chapter 486 of 752 · ~438 words · public domain

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Pre`in*struct" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preinstructed; p. pr. & vb. n. Preinstructing.] To instruct previously or beforehand. Dr. H. More.

Pre*in`ti*ma"tion (?), n. Previous intimation; a suggestion beforehand. T. Scott.

Pre*judge" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudged (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudging.] [Pref. pre + judge: cf. F. prÈjuger. Cf. Prejudicate, Prejudice.] To judge before hearing, or before full and sufficient examination; to decide or sentence by anticipation; to condemn beforehand.

The committee of council hath prejudged the whole case, by calling the united sense of both houses of Parliament" a universal clamor."

Swift.

Pre*judg"ment (?), n. The act of prejudging; decision before sufficient examination.

Pre*ju"di*ca*cy (?), n. Prejudice; prepossession. [Obs.] Sir. H. Blount.

Pre*ju"di*cal (?), a. Of or pertaining to the determination of some matter not previously decided; as, a prejudical inquiry or action at law.

Pre*ju"di*cant (?), a. [L. praejudicans, p. pr.] Influenced by prejudice; biased. [R.] " With not too hasty and prejudicant ears." Milton.

Pre*ju"di*cate (?), a. [L. praejudicatus, p. p. of praejudicare to prejudge; prae before + judicare to judge. See Judge.] 1. Formed before due examination. "Ignorance and prejudicate opinions." Jer. Taylor.

2. Biased by opinions formed prematurely; prejudiced. "Prejudicate readers." Sir T. Browne.

Pre*ju"di*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prejudicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Prejudicating.] [Cf. Prejudge.] To determine beforehand, especially to disadvantage; to prejudge.

Our dearest friend Prejudicates the business.

Shak.

Pre*ju"di*cate, v. i. To prejudge. Sir P. Sidney.

Pre*ju"di*cate*ly (?), adv. With prejudice.

Pre*ju`di*ca"tion (?), n. 1. The act of prejudicating, or of judging without due examination of facts and evidence; prejudgment.

2. (Rom. Law) (a) A preliminary inquiry and determination about something which belongs to a matter in dispute. (b) A previous treatment and decision of a point; a precedent.

Pre*ju"di*ca*tive (?), a. Forming a judgment without due examination; prejudging. Dr. H. More.

Prej"u*dice (?), n. [F. prÈjudice, 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.

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