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| pre·emp·tive [ pree émptiv ] |
adjective |
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| Definition: |
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1. done before others can act: done before somebody else has had an opportunity to act so as to make his or her planned action pointless or impossible
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2. military intended to prevent attack: intended to eliminate or lessen an enemy's capacity to attack
  a preemptive strike
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3. bridge discouraging further bidding: in bridge, being so high a bid that it discourages further bidding
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| [Late 18th century. < medieval Latin praeempt- (see preemption)] |
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| pre·emp·tive·ly adverb |
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