occupy

(äk′yo̵̅o̅ pī′, -yə-)

to take possession of by settlement or seizure
to hold possession of by tenure; specif.,
1. to dwell in
2. to hold (a position or office)
to take up or fill up (space, time, etc.)
to employ, busy, or engage (oneself, one's attention, mind, etc.)

Origin: ME occupien < OFr occuper < L occupare, to take possession of, possess < ob- (see ob-) + capere, to seize: see have

Related Forms:

See occupy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb oc·cu·pied, oc·cu·py·ing, oc·cu·pies

To fill up (time or space): a lecture that occupied three hours.
To dwell or reside in.
To hold or fill (an office or position).
To seize possession of and maintain control over by or as if by conquest.
To engage or employ the attention or concentration of: occupied the children with coloring books.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English occupien

Origin: , alteration of Old French occuper

Origin: , from Latin occupāre, to seize

Origin: : ob-, intensive pref.; see ob-

Origin: + capere, to take; see kap- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: