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preoccupation

 - 3 dictionary results

pre⋅oc⋅cu⋅pa⋅tion

  [pree-ok-yuh-pey-shuhn, pree-ok-]
Use preoccupation in a Sentence
–noun
1. the state of being preoccupied.
2. an act of preoccupying.
Origin:
1530–40; < L praeoccupātiōn- (s. of praeoccupātiō) a taking possession beforehand. See pre-, occupation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pre·oc·cu·pa·tion   (prē-ŏk'yə-pā'shən)   
n.  

  1. The state of being preoccupied; absorption of the attention or intellect.

  2. Something that preoccupies or engrosses the mind: Money was their chief preoccupation.

  3. Occupation of a place in advance; preoccupancy.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

preoccupation 
1552, "state of occupying beforehand," from L. præoccupationem (nom. præoccupatio) "a seizing beforehand, anticipation," n. of action from from præoccupare, from præ- "before" + occupare "seize" (see occupy). Meaning "mental absorption" is from 1854.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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