Anagrams of: PREEMPTIVE

• a high bid that is intended to prevent the opposing players from bidding

• acquire for oneself before others can do so

• take the place of or have precedence over

• gain possession of by prior right or opportunity, especially so as to obtain the right to buy (land)

• make a preemptive bid in the game of bridge

• an infant that is born prior to 37 weeks of gestation

• holding or containing nothing

• a container that has been emptied

• devoid of significance or force

• needing nourishment

• emptied of emotion

• make void or empty of contents

• become empty or void of its content

• leave behind empty; move out of

• remove the contents of a container

• excrete or discharge from the body

• dress or groom with elaborate care

• any of various Old World shrubs having smooth entire leaves and terminal panicles of small white flowers followed by small black berries; many used for hedges

• an eating apple that somewhat resembles a McIntosh; used as both an eating and a cooking apple

• the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised

• a group of countries under a single authority

• a monarchy with an emperor as head of state

• a group of diverse companies under common ownership and run as a single organization

• a sudden outburst of anger

• a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

• a disposition to exhibit uncontrolled anger

• the elasticity and hardness of a metal object; its ability to absorb considerable energy before cracking

• bring to a desired consistency, texture, or hardness by a process of gradually heating and cooling

• harden by reheating and cooling in oil

• adjust the pitch (of pianos)

• make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else

• change by restraining or moderating