forebusy

English

Etymology

From Old English forebiseġian, forebisġian, equivalent to fore- +‎ busy.

Verb

forebusy (third-person singular simple present forbusies, present participle forebusying, simple past and past participle forebusied)

1. (rare, nonstandard, transitive) To busy beforehand; preoccupy.
   • 1877, Philip James Bailey, Festus:

     Springs up to know all life, the secrets learn / Of science and time's truths arcane; projects / Evil would fulfil, that thus forebusied, soul, / All virtue of self-ascription to its Lord Might lose.

   • 2011, David Cowley, How We'd Talk If The English Had Won in 1066:

     Or who might be forebusied, and onbeloaded with work?