PRE-EMPT

v. 1 tr. a forestall. b acquire or appropriate in advance. 2 tr. prevent (an attack) by disabling the enemy. 3 tr. obtain by pre-emption. 4 tr. US take for oneself (esp. public land) so as to have the right of pre-emption. 5 intr. Bridge make a pre-emptive bid. øøpreemptor n. preemptory adj. [back-form. f. PRE-EMPTION]