Reoccupied

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Took control or possession of something once more after it was previously abandoned
2. Regained occupancy or use of a place or position after it had been left or lost
3. Returned to hold or use a location or role following an interruption or vacancy

Etymology: This is a simple past and past participle form of "reoccupy", so its history is the history of that verb. "Reoccupy" is formed from the prefix re- ("again") attached to "occupy". The base "occupy" came into English through Old French from Latin "occupare", meaning to seize or take possession of, built from "ob-" ("against, over") and "capere" ("to take"). The prefix re- also comes from Latin, where it signalled repetition or return, and reached English through Old French. The literal sense of "occupy" was physical: taking hold of a place, which is why "reoccupy" still most naturally describes a building, territory or position being taken again after it was left empty or lost. The meaning was extended over time to roles and jobs, so the verb can now also describe someone returning to a post or function after a gap.