Pre-ŏc'cu-py, v. t.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. PREOCCUPIED; p. pr. & vb. n. PREOCCUPYING.] [See PREOCCUPATE.]

1. To take possession of 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.