praeoccupat

Praeoccupat is a Latin verb form meaning “he/she/it preoccupies” or “preoccupies.” It is the third-person singular present active indicative of the verb praeoccupare, a compound of prae- “before” and occupare “to seize, occupy.” The sense covers occupying beforehand and, in a figurative usage, preoccupying the mind or attention.

Etymology and meaning: The prefix prae- meaning “before” is attached to occupare, a first-conjugation verb derived from occupare “to seize, occupy.” The combined form expresses action that is performed in advance or prior to other considerations, and in later Latin it can convey mental preoccupation or concern.

Morphology: Praeoccupat is the present tense form for 3rd person singular in the active voice. It comes from praeoccupare, which belongs to the first conjugation. Principal parts for reference are praeoccupare, praeoccupavi, praeoccupatum. The infinitive is praeoccupare; the present participle is praeoccupans; the perfect is praeoccupavit.

Usage: In Classical and Late Latin, praeoccupat is used transitively with a direct object or with cognate nouns in the accusative, e.g., praeoccupat rem or praeoccupat animum, to preoccupy the matter or the mind. Figuratively, it can describe preoccupying attention, concern, or anticipation about a subject or task before it occurs or is addressed.

See also: preoccupation, occupation. References to standard Latin dictionaries such as Lewis and Short may provide additional sense distinctions and attested uses.