preoccupancy

English

Etymology

From pre- +‎ occupancy. See preoccupate.

Noun

preoccupancy (usually uncountable, plural preoccupancies)

1. The act of taking possession before another.

   the preoccupancy of the premises

   the preoccupancy of wild land

References

• “preoccupancy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.