presettlement
adjective
pre·set·tle·ment
ˌprē-ˈse-tᵊl-mənt
variants
or pre-settlement
1
: existing or occurring before occupation by settlers
the presettlement wildlife population
historical descriptions of presettlement forests
In presettlement times, heavily vegetated surroundings contributed small amounts of sediment and nutrients to these wetlands.—Jon A. Kusler et al.
… a reasonable midpoint between the extremes of doing nothing and trying to return the bay to its presettlement condition.—Deborah S. Knopman and Megan M. Susman
2
law
: existing or occurring before a settlement (see settlement sense 2a) is reached
a presettlement hearing/conference
She estimated that about 25 percent of presettlement loans result in a loss to the lender because the settlement did not come through.—Ken Belson
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