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REFERENCE

possess

v.
US //pəˈzɛs// UK //pəzˈɛs// pos·sess
  1. 1 to own or have (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to have or own a particular quality, skill, or physical object.

    to have as a property, attribute, or characteristic; to be in possession of something.

    Example

    The new applicant possesses all the technical skills we need for this job.

    Example

    The defendant was found to possess several encrypted files that proved his involvement in the data breach.

    Usage

    Always transitive; requires a direct object.
  2. 2 legal possession (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Law

    to have something in your care or control, even if you do not legally own it.

    to have physical control or occupancy of property or land, distinguished from legal title or ownership.

    Example

    It is illegal to possess certain chemicals without a special permit.

    Example

    The court had to determine whether the tenant continued to possess the premises after the lease had officially expired.

    Usage

    Used specifically in legal contexts regarding property and evidence.
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  1. 3 to be controlled by a feeling (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to be controlled by a very strong emotion or idea.

    of an emotion, idea, or impulse: to dominate or influence a person's mind or actions completely.

    Example

    I don't know what possessed me to say something so rude to her.

    Example

    A sudden, inexplicable rage seemed to possess him, causing him to storm out of the meeting without a word of explanation.

    Usage

    Often used in the passive voice or with 'what' in questions like 'What possessed you?'
  2. 4 supernatural control (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary Religion

    of a spirit or demon: to take control of a person's body or mind.

    of a supernatural entity: to inhabit and exert total control over a person or animal.

    Example

    In the movie, a dark spirit possesses the young girl and changes her voice.

    Example

    Ancient legends spoke of a vengeful ghost that would possess any traveler who dared to sleep within the ruined temple walls.

    Usage

    Commonly found in religious, horror, or mythological contexts.
Origin

PIE word *pótis From Middle English possessen (“to have, own; to obtain possession of; to inhabit, occupy”) [and other forms], from Middle French possesser, possessier, Old French possesser, possessier (“to have, own, possess; to dominate”), from Latin possessus (“possessed; seized”), the perfect passive participle of possideō (“to have, hold, own, possess; to have possessions; to take control or possession of, occupy, seize; to abide, inhabit, occupy; to dominate”), from potis (“able, capable, possible”) (from Proto-Indo-European pótis (“master; ruler; husband”)) + sedeō (“to sit; to be seated; to be established, hold firm”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sed- (“to sit”)).

Word family

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