preattachmentn.
/ˌpriːəˈtatʃm(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌpriəˈtætʃm(ə)nt/ Prior or previous attachment; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > [noun] > state of being in love > prior or previous attachment
preattachment1790
1790 Norman & Bertha I. 150 Some ill-fated pre-attachment..had seduced her from the paths of duty.
1814 J. West Alicia de Lacy I. 318 A pre-attachment was all he dreaded.
1852 Ladies' Repository May 182/1 She was addressed by Mr. B., who was ignorant of her preattachment and engagement.
1988 Language 64 795 Mutation of C2 is..impossible because of the prohibition against crossed association lines. Preattachment, then, forces locality.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1790