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   preoccupation

   /prɪˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃn/

   noun

   • 1. the state or condition of being preoccupied or engrossed with something: "he began to overcome his preoccupation with germs" Similar pensivenessconcentrationengrossmentabsorptionself-absorptionmusingthinkingthinking of other thingsdeep thoughtbrown studybroodingabstractionabsent-mindednessabsence of minddistractionforgetfulnessinattentivenesswool-gatheringinadvertenceheedlessnessdreamreveriedaydreamingoblivionobliviousness
   • ▪ a subject or matter that engrosses someone: "their main preoccupation was how to feed their families" Similar obsessionconcernfixationfascinationpassionenthusiasmhobby horsepet subjectcompulsionfetishcomplexneurosismaniaidée fixeinformal:bee in one's bonnethang-upthingbug

   Word Origin late 16th century (first used in rhetoric in the sense ‘anticipating and meeting objections beforehand’): from Latin praeoccupatio(n-), from praeoccupare ‘seize beforehand’ (see preoccupy).

   Scrabble Points: 21

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