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.
Derivatives:
preemptor n. preemptory adj.
Etymology: back-form. f. PRE-EMPTION