preoccupy
UK[priˈɒkjupaɪ]US[priˈɑːkjupaɪ]
v
To be the main thought in someone's mind, causing them to think about it continuously.
v
To take possession or control of something, especially land or a place, before others.
Morpheme Breakdown
pre
occupy
pre
before
occupy
take control
Etymology
The word "preoccupy" is a direct borrowing from the Latin verb praeoccupare, meaning "to seize beforehand." It is formed from the prefix prae- ("before") and the verb occupare ("to seize, to take possession"). The original, now less common, sense of physically taking control of a place or resource first gave rise to the dominant modern psychological meaning. This evolution occurred because if a thought "seizes" the mind "before" others, it dominates one's attention, perfectly illustrating the logic of the morphemes transforming from a concrete to an abstract action.
Analysis
Structure: pre (before) + occupy (take control)
- pre: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "before, in front of, prior to."
- occupy: A verb of Latin origin (via French), meaning "to take possession of, to seize, to fill."
Examples
Financial worries tend to preoccupy many people's minds.
The army moved quickly to preoccupy the strategic high ground.
She was so preoccupied with the upcoming exam that she barely noticed the beautiful weather.