Webster's English Dictionary

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preoccupation

pre.oc.cu.pa.tion \(.)pre--.a:k-y*-'pa--sh*n\ n [L praeoccupation-, 
   praeoccupatio act of seizing beforehand, fr. Xpraeoccupatus, pp. of 
   praeoccupare to seize beforehand, fr. prae- + occupare to seize, occupy 1: 
   an act of preoccupying : the state of being preoccupied  2a: complete 
   absorption of the mind or interests  2b: something that causes such 
   absorption