possess
/pəˈzɛs
/verb [with object]
1Have as belonging to one; own: I do not possess a television set...
- Regardless, all their lives, the duke and duchess had to deny that they possessed any jewels belonging to the royal family.
- In some regions, one often came across innocent women branded as witches and lynched by villagers who wanted to possess the land and property belonging to the victims.
- It, through the licensing authority, imposes a tax on anyone who possesses a television set but provides a varying range of services depending on where you live.
Synonyms
own, have, be the owner of, have in one's possession, be in possession of, be the possessor of, have to one's name, hold
1.1 Law Have possession of as distinct from ownership: a two-year suspended sentence for possessing cocaine...
- Shortly after the order was issued, he was indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing a firearm in violation of the statute.
- But all of that is subject to the statutory defence (the burden of proof of which lies on the appellant) that he possessed them for a legitimate purpose.
- He pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and was conditionally discharged for two years.
1.2Have as an ability, quality, or characteristic: he did not possess a sense of humour (be possessed of) a fading blonde possessed of a powerful soprano voice...
- You know the scenario: girl meets boy, boy has major fault in character, girl possesses necessary qualities to remedy major fault, boy recognises error of his ways, all ends well.
- Both characters possess qualities considered essential to the Hindu lifestyle, and have become role models for Hindus of both sexes.
- All states are more or less exceptional, in the sense that they possess unique characteristics.
Synonyms
have, be blessed with, be endowed with, be gifted with, be possessed of, be born with;
enjoy, boast, benefit from
archaic participate of
1.3 (possess oneself of) archaic Take for one’s own: all that the plaintiffs did was to possess themselves of the securities...
- He asked in a refined manner, though he possessed himself of my arm and seized me by the wrist, twisting me from the ground.
- If we possess ourselves of this, we have at once a standpoint for the wider survey.
- Thus speaking, Fortunato possessed himself of my arm; and putting on a mask of black silk and drawing a roquelaire closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo.
Synonyms
acquire, obtain, get, get hold of, procure, secure, take, seize, take/gain possession of, get one's hands on
informal get one's mitts on
2(Of a demon or spirit, especially an evil one) have complete power over (someone) and be manifested through their speech or actions: she was possessed by the Devil...
- But there is simply no credible evidence to suggest the boy was possessed by demons or evil spirits.
- One might as well tell the patient she is possessed by demons, as give her a psychoanalytic explanation of her physical disease or disorder.
- Jane's belief that she was possessed by spirits had its origin in a session with a Ouija board when it began to glide under her fingers and spell out messages from the Great Beyond.
Synonyms
take control of, have power over, take over, have mastery over, cast a spell over, bewitch, enchant, enthral, control, dominate, influence;
madden, drive mad
rare bedevil
mad, demented, insane, crazed, maddened, berserk, out of one's mind;
bewitched, enchanted, under a spell, obsessed, haunted
rare bedevilled
2.1(Of an emotion, idea, etc.) dominate the mind of: I was possessed by a desire to tell her everything...
- Even the makers of commercial films appear to be possessed by this idea.
- He was always possessed by the idea that they would get at him if they could, you know, they would poison the fillings in his teeth, so paranoia stemmed out very easily from him.
- These thoughts possessed her mind as she slipped out of the Great Hall quietly and unnoticed.
Synonyms
obsess, dominate, haunt, preoccupy, consume;
eat someone up, prey on someone's mind, become an obsession with, be uppermost in someone's mind, take control of
3 literary (Of a man) have sexual intercourse with: he just wanted her, to possess her
4 archaic Maintain (oneself or one’s mind or soul) in a state of patience or quiet: I tried to possess my soul in patience...
- Do I ‘approve myself in all things as a minister of God; in much patience possessing my own soul,’ and having the government of my own spirit?
- In order to freely possess oneself in such a system one must be free of dependence on the will of others.
- He confessed that "I have possessed myself in patience, but I'm fast getting too old to have any future of importance in the Army."
Often with biblical allusion to Luke 21:19, the proper sense (‘gain your souls’) being misunderstood
Phrases
what possessed you?
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French possesser, from Latin possess- 'occupied, held', from the verb possidere, from potis 'able, capable' + sedere 'sit'.