præoccupre

Præoccupre is a historical term used in philology and Latin lexicography to denote a verb meaning to occupy beforehand or to preoccupy. The form is an archaic or Latinized spelling of the concept conveyed by praeeoccupare, and is occasionally encountered in discussions of early Latin orthography. The word combines the prefix prae- meaning before with a root related to occupare, yielding a sense of securing possession ahead of time.

In semantic scope, præoccupre is transitive, taking a direct object denoting an entity that is occupied in advance, such as land, a seat, or a position. It can also be used metaphorically to denote preoccupying someone’s mind or attention. The precise usage varies by manuscript and scholarly edition, reflecting the broader variability of medieval and early modern Latin spellings.

Attestation and modern usage are rare. The form is typically found in scholarly apparatus, glossaries, or discussions of historical spellings rather than in active prose. In modern English, the corresponding term is preoccupy, and in modern Romance languages cognates exist (for example French préoccuper, Italian preoccuparsi).

See also: preoccupy, occupancy, preemption, praenotion.