preoccupate

Definitions

verb obsolete To influence, to occupy (the mind) in advance; to be preoccupied with.
verb obsolete To meet in advance; to forestall, pre-empt.

From past participle stem of Latin praeoccupare, from prae- ("pre-") + occupare ("occupy"); equivalent to pre- +‎ occupate.

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word preoccupate.

Italiano · Messico: preoccupate reazioni all'epidemia di influenza suina srpski · Meksiko: Zabrinutost zbog izbijanja svinjske gripe

Global Voices in English » Mexico: Concern Over Swine Flu Outbreak 2009
Seeing then to the offensiveness of man's nature one to another, there is added a right of every man to every thing, whereby one man invadeth with right, and another with right resisteth; and men live thereby in perpetual diffidence, and study how to preoccupate each other; the estate of men in this natural liberty is the estate of war.

The Elements of Law Natural and Politic 1650
For I could not be true and constant to the argument I handle if I were not willing to go beyond others; but yet not more willing than to have others go beyond me again: which may the better appear by this, that I have propounded my opinions naked and unarmed, not seeking to preoccupate the liberty of men's judgments by confutations.

The Advancement of Learning Francis Bacon 1593
For I could not be true and constant to the argument I handle if I were not willing to go beyond others; but yet not more willing than to have others go beyond me again: which may the better appear by this, that I have propounded my opinions naked and unarmed, not seeking to preoccupate the liberty of men’s judgments by confutations.

The Advancement of Learning 2003