Bi"as (?), n.; pl. Biases (#). [F. biasis, perh. fr. LL. bifax two-faced; L. bis + facies face. See Bi-, and cf. Face.]
1.
A weight on the side of the ball used in the game of bowls, or a tendency imparted to the ball, which turns it from a straight line.
Being ignorant that there is a concealed bias within the spheroid, which will . . . swerve away.
Sir W. Scott.
2.
A learning of the mind; propensity or prepossession toward an object or view, not leaving the mind indifferent; bent inclination.
Strong love is a bias upon the thoughts.
South.
Morality influences men's lives, and gives a bias to all their actions.
Locke.
3.
A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (as the waist of a dress) to diminish its circumference.
4.
A slant; a diagonal; as, to cut cloth on the bias.
Syn. -- Prepossession; prejudice; partiality; inclination. See Bent.
© Webster 1913.
Bi"as, a.
1.
Inclined to one side; swelled on one side.
[Obs.]
Shak.
2.
Cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth.
© Webster 1913.
Bi"as, adv.
In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally; as, to cut cloth bias.
© Webster 1913.
Bi"as, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Biased (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Biasing.]
To incline to one side; to give a particular direction to; to influence; 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.
© Webster 1913.