Pre*ëmp"tion (?; 215), n. [Pref.
pre- + emption: cf. F. préemption. See
Redeem.] The act or right of purchasing before
others. Specifically: (a) The privilege or
prerogative formerly enjoyed by the king of buying provisions for his
household in preference to others. [Eng.] (b)
The right of an actual settler upon public lands (particularly
those of the United States) to purchase a certain portion at a fixed
price in preference to all other applicants. Abbott.