Bias | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Bī'as, n.

noun

n. [Fr. & Pr. biais, N. Catalan biax, slope. Cf. Arm. bihais, bihays, beskel, oblique line, bias.]

Sense 1. A weight on the side of a bowl which turns it from a straight line.

Being ignorant that there is a concealed bias within the spheroid, which will in all probability swerve away. W. Scott.

Sense 2. A leaning of the mind; propensity toward an object, not leaving the mind indifferent; inclination; prepossession; bent.

Strong love is a bias upon the thoughts. South.

Morality influences men's lives, and gives a bias to all their actions. Locke.

Sense 3. A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of the waist of a dress to diminish its circumference.

Synonyms— See BENT.

Bī'as, a.

adjective

a. Sloping. [Obs.] Shak.

Bī'as, adv.

adverb

In a slanting manner; crosswise; athwart; diagonally; as, to cut cloth bias.

Bī'as, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. BIASED (bī'ast); p. pr. & vb. n. BIASING.] To incline to one side; to give a particular direction to; to prejudice; to prepossess.

Me it had not biased in the one direction, nor should it have biased any just critic in the counter direction. De Quincey.