Pre*oc"cu*py (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preoccupied (-pd); p. pr. & vb.
n. Preoccupying (?).] [Cf. F. prÈoccuper. 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.
Pre*oc"u*lar (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Placed just in front of the eyes, as the
antennÊ of certain insects. -- n. One of the scales just in front of
the eye of a reptile or fish.
Pre*om"i*nate (?), v. t. To ominate beforehand; to portend. [Obs.] Sir
T. Browne.
Pre`o*per"cu*lar (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of the operculum;
pertaining to the preoperculum. -- n. The preoperculum.
||Pre`o*per"cu*lum (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) The anterior opercular bone in
||fishes.
Pre`o*pin"ion (?), n. Opinion previously formed; prepossession;
prejudice. Sir T. Browne.
Pre*op"tion (?), n. Right of first choice.
Pre*o"ral (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front of, or anterior to, the
mouth; as, preoral bands.
Pre*or"bit*al (?), a. (Anat.) Situated in front or the orbit.
Pre`or*dain" (?), v. t. [Pref. pre + ordain: cf. L. praeordinare.] To
ordain or appoint beforehand: to predetermine: to foreordain. Milton.
Pre*or"der (?), v. t. To order to arrange beforehand; to foreordain.
Sir W. Hamilton.
Pre*or"di*nance (?), n. Antecedent decree or determination. Shak.
Pre*or"di*nate (?), a. [L. praeordinatus, p. p. See Preordain.]
Preordained. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
Pre*or`di*na"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. prÈordination.] The act of
foreordaining: previous determination. "The preordination of God."
Bale.
Pre*par"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being prepared. "Medicine preparable
by art." Boyle.