Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRE-OC'CU-PY, v.t. [L. præoccupo; præ, before, and occupo, to seize.]

1. To take possession before another; as, to preoccupy a country or land not before occupied.
2. To prepossess; to occupy by anticipation or prejudices. I think it more respectful to the reader to leave something to reflections, than to preoccupy his judgment. – Arbuthnot.