Preopt
/ˌpriːˈɒpt/noun
To choose or decide upon something beforehand.
Did you know?Preopt combines the productive prefix pre- with opt, a verb descended from Latin optare, “to choose” or “desire,” linking modern decision-making to ancient ideas of deliberate selection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁ep-
“A reconstructed root associated with choosing or selecting; its exact reconstruction and sense remain debated.”
Classical Latin
Latin
optāre
“To choose, wish for, or desire.”
14th–15th Century
English
opt
“To choose, especially in the phrase “opt for”; borrowed from Latin through French influence.”
19th Century
English
pre- + opt
“A transparent formation meaning to choose beforehand.”
20th Century–Modern English
English
preopt
“To select or determine in advance, chiefly in specialized or relatively uncommon usage.”