The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #69400   Message #1177112
Posted By: Bee-dubya-ell
03-May-04 - 04:47 PM
Thread Name: BS: More right wing US media censorship
Subject: RE: BS: More right wing US media censorship
Main Entry: pre·empt
Pronunciation: prE-'em(p)t
Function: verb
Etymology: back-formation from preemption
Date: 1850
transitive senses
1 : to acquire (as land) by preemption
2 : to seize upon to the exclusion of others : take for oneself (the movement was then preempted by a lunatic fringe)
3 : to replace with something considered to be of greater value or priority : take precedence over (the program did not appear, having been preempted by a baseball game —Robert MacNeil)
4 : to gain a commanding or preeminent place in
5 : to prevent from happening or taking place : FORESTALL, PRECLUDE
intransitive senses
: to make a preemptive bid in bridge
- pre·emp·tor /-'em(p)-t&r/ noun

Pronunciation Key

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