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comparative more preoccupied, superlative most preoccupied
Concerned with something else; distracted; giving one's attention elsewhere. examples
(taxonomy, not comparable) Describing a taxonomic name already used for another taxon, so that it can't be used for anything but that other taxon. quotations examples
In 1924 J. D. Tothill revised the nearctic species in the genus Fabriciella, a name proposed by Bezzi in 1906 to replace Fabricia Rob. D. which is preoccupied.
1931, John Allen Rowe, “A revision of the males of the nearctic species in the genus Fabriciella (Tachinidae)”, in Annals of the Entomological Society of America, volume 24
simple past and past participle of preoccupy examples