Prej"u*dice (?), n. [F.
préjudice, 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. préjudicier. 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
