preoccupy

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: pre=oc=cu=py

CIDE DICTIONARY

preoccupy, v. t. [Cf. F. préoccuper. See Preoccupate, Occupy.].

•  To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a country not before held.  [1913 Webster]
•  To prepossess; to engage, occupy, or engross the attention of, beforehand; hence, to prejudice.  [1913 Webster]

  "I Think it more respectful to the reader to leave something to reflections than to preoccupy his judgment."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

preoccupy, v.tr. (-ies, -ied)
1 (of a thought etc.) dominate or engross the mind of (a person) to the exclusion of other thoughts.
2 (as preoccupied adj.) otherwise engrossed; mentally distracted.
3 occupy beforehand.

Etymology

PRE- + OCCUPY, after L praeoccupare seize beforehand

THESAURUS

preoccupy

absorb, absorb the attention, adopt, appropriate, arrest, arrogate, assume, beset, catch, charm, colonize, come uppermost, compel, conquer, drive, enchant, engage, engage the attention, engage the mind, engage the thoughts, engross, engross the mind, engross the thoughts, enslave, enthrall, exercise, fascinate, fill the mind, grab, grip, hog, hold, hold spellbound, hold the interest, hypnotize, immerse, impel, indent, infatuate, involve, involve the interest, jump a claim, make free with, make use of, mesmerize, monopolize, monopolize the thoughts, not let go, obsess, obsess the mind, occupy, occupy the attention, occupy the mind, overrun, possess, preempt, preengage, prepossess, requisition, seize the mind, sit on, spellbind, squat on, subjugate, take all of, take it all, take over, take possession of, take up, usurp