prejudice

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See also: préjudice

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English prejudice, from Old French prejudice, from Latin praeiūdicium (previous judgment or damage), from prae- (before) + iūdicium (judgment).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɹɛd͡ʒədɪs/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: prej‧u‧dice

Noun

prejudice (countable and uncountable, plural prejudices)

  1. (countable) An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge of the facts.
  2. (countable) A preconception, any preconceived opinion or feeling, whether positive or negative.
    Morality is but a prejudice.
  3. (countable) An irrational hostile attitude, fear or hatred towards a particular group, race or religion.
    I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally.
  4. (obsolete) Knowledge formed in advance; foresight, presaging.
  5. (chiefly obsolete) Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment.
    • 1793, Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, §20:
      We both of us happen’d to know, as well as the Stationer, that Riddlesden the Attorney, was a very Knave. He had half ruin’d Miss Read’s Father by drawing him in to be bound for him. By his Letter it appear’d, there was a secret Scheme on foot to the Prejudice of Hamilton, (Suppos’d to be then coming over with us,) and that Keith was concern’d in it with Riddlesden. [...]
    • 1702, John Locke, translated by W. Popple, A Letter concerning Toleration :
      for no injury is thereby done to any one, no prejudice to another man's goods
    • 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :
      England and France might, through their amity, / Breed him some prejudice.
    • a. 1662 (date written), Thomas Fuller, The History of the Worthies of England, London: J G W L and W G, published 1662, →OCLC:
      For Pens, so usefull for Scholars to note the remarkables they read, with an impression easily deleble without prejudice to the Book.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Verb

prejudice (third-person singular simple present prejudices, present participle prejudicing, simple past and past participle prejudiced)

  1. (transitive) To have a negative impact on (someone's position, chances etc.).
  2. (transitive) To cause prejudice in; to bias the mind of.

Translations

Adjective

prejudice

  1. Misspelling of prejudiced.

See also

Old French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin praeiudicium.

Noun

prejudice oblique singularf (oblique plural prejudices, nominative singular prejudice, nominative plural prejudices)

  1. (chiefly law) harm; damage
  2. (chiefly law) prejudgment; prejudice

Descendants

  • English: prejudice
  • French: préjudice