possess

[ puh-zes ]

/ pəˈzɛs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR possess ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to have as belonging to one; have as property; own: to possess a house and a car.

to have as a faculty, quality, or the like: to possess courage.

(of a spirit, especially an evil one) to occupy, dominate, or control (a person) from within: He thought he was possessed by devils.

(of a feeling, idea, etc.) to dominate or actuate in the manner of such a spirit: He was possessed by envy.

(of a man) to succeed in having sexual intercourse with.

to have knowledge of: to possess a language.

to keep or maintain (oneself, one's mind, etc.) in a certain state, as of peace, patience, etc.

to maintain control over (oneself, one's mind, etc.).

to impart to; inform; familiarize (often followed by of or with): to possess someone of the facts of the case.

to cause to be dominated or influenced, as by an idea, feeling, etc.

to make (someone) owner, holder, or master, as of property, information, etc.: He possessed them of the facts.

to seize or take.

to gain or win.

to occupy or hold.

Origin of possess

1425–75; late Middle English possesen < Middle French possess(i)er, noun derivative of possession possession

synonym study for possess

1. See have.

OTHER WORDS FROM possess

pos·ses·sor, noun pos·ses·sor·ship, noun un·der·pos·ses·sor, noun un·pos·sess·ing, adjective

Words nearby possess

poss, poss., posse, posse comitatus, posser, possess, possessed, possessed by, possessed, the, possession, possession is nine points of the law

Example sentences from the Web for possessing

He was charged with two counts of possessing a raptor and two counts of possessing a protected species.

He Faces Jail for Rescuing Baby Eagles |Michael Daly |November 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Morgan is a convicted felon and therefore barred from possessing firearms.

The Mystery of Donald Ray Morgan, the 44-Year-Old American Who Loved ISIS |Michael Daly |August 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In November 2013, it was reported that 80 prisoners were publicly executed, many for possessing Bibles.

The New Age of Christian Martyrdom |Kirsten Powers |January 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Soldier N was found guilty of possessing illegal firearms and was sentenced to two years in prison.

The Man at the Center of the Princess Diana Conspiracy |Nico Hines |August 20, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

He was one of the great journalists of our generation, possessing spark and insight and righteous indignation.

Michael Hastings, R.I.P. |John Avlon |June 19, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Sir Michael, not possessing the gift of eloquence himself, beckoned to his elder brother to speak.

Tales From Jkai |Mr Jkai
I have adopted Schlegel's reading, which substitutes Dwapara for Kali, as possessing the dice.

Nala and Damayanti and Other Poems |Henry Hart Milman
These charms are either inherited or revealed to their owners by the spirits in dreams, as possessing medicinal virtue.

Children of Borneo |Edwin Herbert Gomes
But no one can adequately comprehend it without previously possessing adequate knowledge of the body.

The World's Greatest Books--Volume 14--Philosophy and Economics |Various
For Steve was 'cute, and had the advantage of possessing trained trappers.

How Canada was Won |F. S. Brereton

British Dictionary definitions for possessing

possess

/ (pəˈzɛs) /

verb (tr)

to have as one's property; own

to have as a quality, faculty, characteristic, etc to possess good eyesight

to have knowledge or mastery of to possess a little French

to gain control over or dominate whatever possessed you to act so foolishly?

(foll by of) to cause to be the owner or possessor I am possessed of the necessary information

(often foll by with) to cause to be influenced or dominated (by) the news possessed him with anger

to have sexual intercourse with

rare to keep control over or maintain (oneself or one's feelings) in a certain state or condition possess yourself in patience until I tell you the news

archaic to gain or seize

Derived forms of possess

possessor, noun

Word Origin for possess

C15: from Old French possesser, from Latin possidēre to own, occupy; related to Latin sedēre to sit

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

possess

verb (used with object)

Origin of possess

synonym study for possess

OTHER WORDS FROM possess

Words nearby possess

Example sentences from the Web for possessing

British Dictionary definitions for possessing

verb (tr)

Derived forms of possess

Word Origin for possess

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

possess

verb (used with object)

Origin of possess

synonym study for possess

OTHER WORDS FROM possess

Words nearby possess

Words related to possessing

Example sentences from the Web for possessing

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for possessing

verb (tr)

Derived forms of possess

Word Origin for possess

British Dictionary definitions for possessing