prae-occŭpo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. (class., but not in Cic., since praecepit is the true read., Cic. Phil. 10, 1, 2).
I To seize upon , to take possession of or occupy beforehand , to preoccupy.
A Lit.: hic ne intrare posset saltum, Datames praeoccupare studuit, Nep. Dat. 7, 2: Macedoniam, id. Eum. 2, 4: loca opportuna, Liv. 44, 3; 35, 28; 42, 47: iter, Caes. B. C. 3, 13: Asiam, Vell. 2, 69, 2; cf.: praeoccupatum sese legatione ab Cn. Pompeio, Caes. B. C. 2, 17.—
B To take , catch , detect , seize in an act: si praeoccupatus fuerit homo in delicto, Vulg. Gal. 6, 1.—
C Trop.: animos timor praeoccupaverat, Caes. B. G. 6, 41, 3: hilaritas praeoccupaverat mentes, Petr. 113: praeoccupati beneficio animi, i. e. won over beforehand , Liv. 6, 20, 10: aures, id. 38, 10.—
II To anticipate , prevent : ne alter alterum praeoccuparet, Nep. Dion, 4, 1.—With obj.clause (like the simpler occupare): legem de multarum aestimatione ipsi praeoccupaverunt ferre, hastened to bring the bill sooner before the people , Liv. 4, 30, 3.