-nt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, from present participle of occuper to take possession of — more at occupy
1.
a. : one who takes the first possession of something that has no owner and thereby acquires title by occupancy
b. : one who takes possession under title, lease, or tenancy at will
2.
a. : one who occupies a particular place or premises : tenant , resident
the influence of sudden variations in temperature … on the occupants of a small pond — W.H.Dowdeswell
the only year-around occupants of snowcapped Mount Washington — R.S.Monahan
the human body has fascinated, pleased and frightened its occupants for many an age — R.M.Yoder
b. : one who holds a particular post
a study of the occupants of the supreme court bench
the first occupant of the post of assistant to the president
3. : one who has the actual use or possession of something
limped hurriedly to grab a table whose occupants had scarcely risen fully to their feet — William Sansom