verb (used with object)
1.
to have as belonging to one; have as property; own: to possess a house and a car.
2.
to have as a faculty, quality, or the like: to possess courage.
3.
(of a spirit, especially an evil one) to occupy, dominate, or control (a person) from within: He thought he was possessed by devils.
4.
(of a feeling, idea, etc.) to dominate or actuate in the manner of such a spirit: He was possessed by envy.
5.
EXPAND(of a man) to succeed in having sexual intercourse with.
6.
to have knowledge of: to possess a language.
7.
to keep or maintain (oneself, one's mind, etc.) in a certain state, as of peace, patience, etc.
8.
to maintain control over (oneself, one's mind, etc.).
9.
to impart to; inform; familiarize (often followed by of or with): to possess someone of the facts of the case.
10.
to cause to be dominated or influenced, as by an idea, feeling, etc.
11.
to make (someone) owner, holder, or master, as of property, information, etc.: He possessed them of the facts.
12.
to seize or take.
13.
to gain or win.
14.
COLLAPSEto occupy or hold.
Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English possesen < Middle French possess(i)er, noun derivative of possession possession
1425–75; late Middle English possesen < Middle French possess(i)er, noun derivative of possession possession
Related forms
pos·ses·sor, noun
pos·ses·sor·ship, noun
un·der·pos·ses·sor, noun
un·pos·sess·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Possessing
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
possess
mid-15c., "to hold, occupy, reside in" (without regard to ownership), from O.Fr. possessier (mid-13c.), from L. possess-, pp. stem of possidere "to possess." Meaning "to hold as property" is recorded from c.1500. Demonic sense is recorded from 1530s (implied in possessed). Possessive first attested 1520s
EXPANDin grammatical sense.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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