preemptor
|pre-empt-or|
🇺🇸
/priːˈɛmptər/
🇬🇧
/priːˈɛmptə/
one who takes before others
Etymology
'preemptor' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'praeemptor', where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'emere' meant 'to buy.'
'preemptor' changed from Latin 'praeemptor' (past-participial stem of 'praeemere') through Late Latin and was adopted into English via early modern usage of the verb 'preempt' (from Latin roots) to form the agent noun 'preemptor.'
Initially, it meant 'a person who buys before others' (a purchaser exercising a prior right), but over time it evolved to include the broader sense of 'one who takes action beforehand to prevent or forestall.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person or agent that preempts; one who takes action beforehand to prevent or forestall something.
The preemptor acted quickly to announce new regulations before rivals could respond.
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Noun 2
a person who has a legal right of preemption — i.e., the right to purchase property or goods before others.
Under the terms of the contract, the tenant was the preemptor and could buy the building before it was offered to others.
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Last updated: 2025/10/20 13:20