Literary notes about Preoccupy (AI summary)
The term "preoccupy" has been used in literature with intriguing versatility, often implying a dominant influence or an engrossing focus. For instance, in George Santayana’s work, it signifies an image that will come to pervade the arts, suggesting a preeminent and metaphoric impact on creative culture [1]. In Benito Pérez Galdós’s discussion, the word is clarified akin to “take up,” highlighting an engagement or a holding of attention in a more literal or direct sense [2]. Meanwhile, Sigmund Freud employs "preoccupy" in the context of mourning, describing the way grief fixates itself on preserving the memory of the deceased—a process that consumes and channels emotional energy [3]. Together, these varied usages underscore the multifaceted nature of the word in capturing both abstract and concrete forms of dominance and fixation.