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obsess - 5 dictionary results
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ob⋅sess

  [uhb-ses]
Use obsess in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to dominate or preoccupy the thoughts, feelings, or desires of (a person); beset, trouble, or haunt persistently or abnormally: Suspicion obsessed him.
–verb (used without object)
2. to think about something unceasingly or persistently; dwell obsessively upon something.
Origin:
1495–1505; < L obsessus, ptp. of obsidēre to occupy, frequent, besiege, equiv. to ob- ob- + -sid(ēre) comb. form of sedēre to sit

Related forms:
ob⋅sess⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
ob⋅ses⋅sor, noun

Synonyms:
1. possess, control, haunt.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To obsess
ob·sess   (əb-sěs', ŏb-)   
v.   ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es

v.   tr.
To preoccupy the mind of excessively.
v.   intr.
To have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic: "She's dead. And you're still obsessing" (Scott Turow).

[Latin obsidēre, obsess-, to beset, occupy : ob-, on; see ob- + sedēre, to sit; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]
ob·ses'sor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Obsess

Ob*sess"\, v. t. [L. obsessus, p. p. of obsidere to besiege; ob (see Ob-) + sedere to sit.] To besiege; to beset. --Sir T. Elyot.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : obsess
Spanish: obsesionar,
German: verfolgen,
Japanese: 取りつく
More Translations »

obsess 
1503, "to besiege," from L. obsessus, pp. of obsidere "besiege, occupy," lit. "sit opposite to," from ob "against" + sedere "sit." Of evil spirits, "to haunt," is from 1540. Obsession was originally (1513) "the act of besieging," then "hostile action of the devil or an evil spirit" (1605); meaning "persistent influence or idea" is first recorded 1680. Obsessive (adj.) formed 1911. Obsessive-compulsive is attested from 1927.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: ob·sess
Pronunciation: &b-'ses, äb-
Function: transitive verb
: to preoccupy intensely or abnormally obsessed with success> obsess intransitive senses
: to engage in obsessive thinking obsess about them —CarolTavris>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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