Noah Webster
Preoccupy
PREOC'CUPY, verb transitive [Latin proeoccupo; proe, before, and occupo, to seize.]
1. To take possession before another; as, to preoccupy a country or land not before occupied.
2. To prepossess; to occupy by anticipation or prejudices.
I think it more respectful to the reader to leave something to reflections, than to preoccupy his judgment.