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Prepossessing vs Personable - What's the difference?

prepossessing | personable | Synonyms |

As adjectives the difference between prepossessing and personable

is that prepossessing is tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner while personable is having a pleasing appearance or manner; attractive; handsome; friendly; amiable.

prepossessing

English

(Webster 1913)

Adjective

(-)
  • Tending to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner.
  • *1836 , Dickens, Sketches by Boz ,
  • *:Our curate is a young gentleman of such prepossessing appearance, and fascinating manners, that within one month after his first appearance in the parish, half the young-lady inhabitants were melancholy with religion, and the other half, desponding with love.
  • *1852 , H. B. Stowe,
  • *:These natural graces in the quadroon are often united with beauty of the most dazzling kind, and in almost every case with a personal appearance prepossessing and agreeable.

    • References

    *

    personable

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete) * (l) (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (of a person) Having a pleasing appearance or manner; attractive; handsome; friendly; amiable.
  • * Spenser
    • Wise, warlike, personable , courteous, and kind.
  • * 1822 , , The Fortunes of Nigel , ch. 19:
    • I admit him a personable man, for I have seen him; and I will suppose him courteous and agreeable.
  • * 1908 , , A Room With a View , ch. 12:
    • Barefoot, bare-chested, radiant and personable against the shadowy woods, he called: "Hullo, Miss Honeychurch! Hullo!"
  • * 1919 , . The Sun Of Quebec , ch. 5:
    • I'm bound to admit that you're a personable young rascal, with the best manners I've met in a long time.
  • * 2009 , Randy James, " 2-Min. Bio: Stephanie Birkitt: Letterman's Lover?," Time , 5 Oct.:
    • Aside from being incredibly funny and personable he is generous, kind and is great fun to play catch with.
  • (legal) Enabled to maintain pleas in court.
    • (Cowell)
  • Having capacity to take anything granted.