forebusy
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Old English forebiseġian, forebisġian, equivalent to fore- + busy.
Verb
[edit]forebusy (third-person singular simple present forbusies, present participle forebusying, simple past and past participle forebusied)
- (rare, nonstandard, transitive) To busy beforehand; preoccupy.
- 1877, Philip James Bailey, Festus:
- Springs up to know all life, the secrets learn / Of science and time's truths arcane; projects / Evil would fulfil, that thus forebusied, soul, / All virtue of self-ascription to its Lord Might lose.
- 2011, David Cowley, How We'd Talk If The English Had Won in 1066:
- Or who might be forebusied, and onbeloaded with work?