PREOCCUPY

preoccupy. Preoccupy, v.t. to get or have first possession

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Pre‐oc″cu‐py (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preoccupied (–pīd); p. pr. & vb. n. Preoccupying (?).] [[Cf. F. préoccuper. See Preoccupate, Occupy.]] 1. 1. To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a country not before held.
2. 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.