misoccupy
yəˌpaɪ verb (used with object)
1.
to take or fill up (space, time, etc.): I occupied my evenings reading novels.
2.
to engage or employ the mind, energy, or attention of: Occupy the children with a game while I prepare dinner.
3.
to be a resident or tenant of; dwell in: We occupied the same house for 20 years.
4.
to take possession and control of (a place), as by military invasion.
5.
to hold (a position, office, etc.).
verb (used without object)
6.
to take or hold possession.
00:10
Misoccupy
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English occupien < Middle French occuper < Latin occupāre to seize, take hold, take up, make one's own, equivalent to oc- oc- + -cup-, combining form of capere to take, seize + -āre infinitive suffix
1300–50; Middle English occupien < Middle French occuper < Latin occupāre to seize, take hold, take up, make one's own, equivalent to oc- oc- + -cup-, combining form of capere to take, seize + -āre infinitive suffix
Related forms
oc·cu·pi·a·ble, adjective
oc·cu·pi·er, noun
mis·oc·cu·py, verb, mis·oc·cu·pied, mis·oc·cu·py·ing.
o·ver·oc·cu·pied, adjective
re·oc·cu·py, verb (used with object), re·oc·cu·pied, re·oc·cu·py·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To misoccupy
Collins
World English Dictionary
occupy (ˈɒkjʊˌpaɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb , -pies, -pying, -pied | |
| 1. | to live or be established in (a house, flat, office, etc) |
| 2. | (often passive) to keep (a person) busy or engrossed; engage the attention of |
| 3. | (often passive) to take up (a certain amount of time or space) |
| 4. | to take and hold possession of, esp as a demonstration: students occupied the college buildings |
| 5. | to fill or hold (a position or rank) |
| [C14: from Old French occuper, from Latin occupāre to seize hold of, from ob- (intensive) + capere to take] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
occupy
c.1340, "to take possession of," also "to take up space or time, employ (someone)," from O.Fr. occuper, from L. occupare "take over, seize, possess, occupy," from ob "over" + intensive form of capere "to grasp, seize" (see capable). During 16c.-17c. a euphemism for "have
sexual intercourse with," which caused it to fall from polite usage.
"A captaine? Gods light these villaines wil make the word as odious as the word occupy, which was an excellent good worde before it was il sorted." [Doll Tearsheet in "2 Henry IV"]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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