Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pos·ses·sion       (pə-zěsh'ən)  Pronunciation Key  n.   The act or fact of possessing. The state of being possessed. Physical control of the ball or puck by a player or team. The condition of being on offense: The home team was in possession during most of the fourth quarter. Something owned or possessed. possessions Wealth or property. Law Actual holding or occupancy with or without rightful ownership. A territory subject to foreign control. Self-control. The state of being dominated by or as if by evil spirits or by an obsession. Sports Physical control of the ball or puck by a player or team. The condition of being on offense: The home team was in possession during most of the fourth quarter. pos·ses'sion·al adj.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
possession 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

possession
noun
1.	the act of having and controlling property
2.	anything owned or possessed
3.	being controlled by passion or the supernatural
4.	a mania restricted to one thing or idea [syn: monomania]
5.	a territory that is controlled by a ruling state
6.	the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior [syn: self-control]
7.	(sport) the act of controlling the ball (or puck); "they took possession of the ball on their own goal line"

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: pos·ses·sion
Pronunciation: p&-'ze-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the act, fact, or condition of having control of something: as a : ACTUAL POSSESSION in this entry b : CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION in this entry c : knowing dominion and control over a controlled substance or other contraband d in the civil law of Louisiana : the detention or enjoyment of a corporeal thing e : control or occupancy of property

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actual possession
1 : direct occupancy, use, or control of real property actual possession of the land despite a lack of legal title>
2 : direct physical custody, care, or control of property or contraband (as illegal drugs) <actual possession is not necessary to sustain a conviction —State v. Garrison, 896 South Western Reporter, Second Series 689 (1995)>

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adverse possession
: actual possession of another's real property that is open, hostile, exclusive, continuous, adverse to the claim of the owner, often under a claim of right or color of title, and that may give rise to title in the possessor if carried out for a specified statutory period (as ten years); also : the method of acquiring title by such possession —see also HOSTILE POSSESSION and, NOTORIOUS POSSESSION in this entry —compare PRESCRIPTION

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civil possession
in the civil law of Louisiana : possession that exists by virtue of an intent to be the owner of a property even though one no longer occupies or has physical control of it

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constructive possession
1 : possession that exists by virtue of a right (as by title) rather than direct occupancy or control
2 : the knowing ability and sometimes intent to exercise dominion and control over something (as illegal drugs) either directly or through others

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hostile possession
: possession (as in adverse possession) that is antagonistic to the claims of all others (as a record owner) and that is carried out with the intention to possess the property exclusively

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notorious possession
: possession (as in adverse possession) that is so conspicuous that it is generally known by people in the vicinity of the property and so gives rise to a presumption that the owner has notice of it

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precarious possession
in the civil law of Louisiana : possession of property that is exercised by another (as a lessee) with the permission of or on behalf of the owner —see also acquisitive prescription at PRESCRIPTION
2 : something controlled, occupied, or owned possessions>

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Possession

Pos*ses"sion\, n. [F. possession, L. possessio.]

1. The act or state of possessing, or holding as one's own.

2. (Law) The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command; actual seizin or occupancy; ownership, whether rightful or wrongful.

Note: Possession may be either actual or constructive; actual, when a party has the immediate occupancy; constructive, when he has only the right to such occupancy.

3. The thing possessed; that which any one occupies, owns, or controls; in the plural, property in the aggregate; wealth; dominion; as, foreign possessions.

When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. --Matt. xix. 22.

Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. --Acts v. 1.

The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. --Ob. 17.

4. The state of being possessed or controlled, as by an evil spirit, or violent passions; madness; frenzy; as, demoniacal possession.

How long hath this possession held the man? --Shak.

To give possession, to put in another's power or occupancy.

To put in possession. (a) To invest with ownership or occupancy; to provide or furnish with; as, to put one in possession of facts or information. (b) (Law) To place one in charge of property recovered in ejectment or writ of entry.

To take possession, to enter upon, or to bring within one's power or occupancy.

Writ of possession (Law), a precept directing a sheriff to put a person in peaceable possession of property recovered in ejectment or writ of entry.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Possession

Pos*ses"sion\, v. t. To invest with property. [Obs.]