Hypertext Webster Gateway: "preoccupy"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Preoccupy \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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
preoccupy
v 1: occupy urgently or obsessively; "This matter proccupies her
completely--she cannot think of anything else"
2: engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand;
"His work preoccupies him"
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