PREOCCUPY: Dictionary Entry and Meaning
| Pronunciation: | | pree'âkyu`pI
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| Matching Terms: | | preoccupancy, Preoccupate, preoccupation, preoccupied
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | |
- [v] engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively; "His work preoccupies him"; "The matter preoccupies her completley--she cannot think of anything else"
- [v] occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance; "the army preoccupied the hills"
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| | See Also: | | appropriate, capture, command, conquer, control, ghost, haunt, obsess, prepossess, seize, take over, usurp | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | \Pre*oc"cu*py\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Preoccupied}
(-p[=i]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Preoccupying}.] [Cf. F.
pr['e]occuper. See {Preoccupate}, {Occupy}.]
1. To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a
country not before held.
2. To prepossess; to engage, occupy, or engross the attention
of, beforehand; hence, to prejudice.
I Think it more respectful to the reader to leave
something to reflections than to preoccupy his
judgment. --Arbuthnot.
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