Pre‐oc″cu‐py (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Preoccupied (–pīd); p. pr. & vb. n.Preoccupying (?).] [Cf. F. préoccuper. 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.