The word possess means

обладать, владеть, овладевать, захватывать, сохранять, удерживать

глагол

- обладать, владеть

to possess property [wealth] — владеть имуществом [богатством]
to possess courage [good qualities] — обладать мужеством [хорошими качествами]
to possess sprinting ability — спорт. обладать сильным рывком

- арх. брать; овладевать

to possess oneself of smth. — приобретать что-л.; овладевать чем-л.

- сохранять (спокойствие, терпение, самообладание и т. п.); владеть (собой)

to possess oneself /one’s soul, one’s mind/ — владеть собою, сохранять хладнокровие /спокойствие/
to possess one’s soul in patience — запастись /обладать/ терпением
he possesses his soul in peace — душа у него спокойна

- овладевать, захватывать (о чувстве, настроении и т. п.)

melancholy possesses him — он погружён в меланхолию
a demon possessed her — в неё бес вселился
what possessed him to act so? — что дёрнуло /заставило/ его поступить таким образом?

- редк. владеть (языком); знать, уметь

to possess Greek poetry — знать греческую поэзию

- (of, with) уст. сообщать, извещать

he possessed them of the facts — он сообщил /представил/ им факты

- овладеть женщиной

Мои примеры

Словосочетания

he possesses great knowledge about the Middle East — Он обладает огромными знаниями о Ближнем Востоке.  
to have / possess charm — обладать обаянием, быть обаятельным  
to possess dignity — обладать чувством собственного достоинства  
to possess oneself / one’s soul / one’s mind — владеть собою, сохранять хладнокровие  
to possess property — владеть имуществом  
to possess courage — обладать мужеством  
possess property — владеть имуществом  
possess wealth — владеть богатством  
to possess [to take on] value — мат. принимать значение  
possess nuclear capability — обладать достаточной промышленной и военной мощью, чтобы вести ядерную войну  
possess considerable merit — обладать значительным преимуществом  

Примеры с переводом

Different workers possess different skills.

Разные работники обладают разными умениями и навыками.

He possesses a keen wit.

Он обладает острым умом. / У него очень острый ум.

A terrible rage possessed her

Страшный гнев овладел ею.

Cats possess a natural hunting instinct.

Кошки обладают врождённым охотничьим инстинктом.

Neither of them possessed a credit card.

Ни у кого из них не было кредитной карты.

At what date do you intend to possess yourself of the house?

Когда ты вступаешь во владение домом?

These things possess no moral interest.

Эти явления не представляют никакой важности с точки зрения морали.

ещё 19 примеров свернуть

Возможные однокоренные слова

dispossess  — лишать собственности, выселять, лишать владения, лишать права владения
possessed  — одержимый, ненормальный, рехнувшийся
possession  — владение, обладание, одержимость, зависимая территория
possessive  — притяжательный, собственнический, притяжательный падеж
possessor  — обладатель, владелец, владетель
possessing  — владеющий
repossess  — снова вступать во владение, изымать за неплатеж, вещь

Формы слова

verb
I/you/we/they: possess
he/she/it: possesses
ing ф. (present participle): possessing
2-я ф. (past tense): possessed
3-я ф. (past participle): possessed

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

PIE word
*pótis

From Middle English possessen (to have, own; to obtain possession of; to inhabit, occupy) [and other forms],[1] 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)).[2]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /pəˈzɛs/
  • Rhymes: -ɛs
  • Hyphenation: po‧ssess

Verb[edit]

possess (third-person singular simple present possesses, present participle possessing, simple past and past participle possessed)

  1. (transitive)
    1. To have (something) as, or as if as, an owner; to have, to own.
      Synonym: inhold

      He does not even possess a working telephone.

      • 1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of Spirituall Darknesse from Misinterpretation of Scripture”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: [] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke, [], →OCLC, fourth part (Of the Kingdome of Darknesse), page 340:

        For men being generally poſſeſſed before the time of our Saviour, [] of an opinion, that the Souls of men were ſubſtances diſtinct from their Bodies, and therefore that when the Body was dead, the Soule of every man, whether godly, or wicked, muſt ſubſiſt ſomewhere by vertue of its own nature, without acknowledging therein any ſupernaturall gift of Gods; the Doctors of the Church doubted a long time, what was the place, which they were to abide in, till they ſhould be re-united to their Bodies in the Reſurrection; []

      • 1818, [Mary Shelley], chapter VII, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. [], volume III, London: [] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, →OCLC, page 162:

        Even where the affections are not strongly moved by any superior excellence, the companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds, which hardly any later friend can obtain.

      • 1880 November 12, Lew[is] Wallace, chapter II, in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, [], →OCLC, book fourth, page 179:

        [T]he ship turned and made slowly for her wharf under the wall, bringing even more fairly to view the life with which the river at that point was possessed.

    2. Of an idea, thought, etc.: to dominate (someone’s mind); to strongly influence.
      • c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 89, column 1:

        I am poſſeſt with an adulterate blot, / My bloud is mingled with the crime of luſt: []

      • 1722 March, H[enry] F[oe] [pseudonym; Daniel Defoe], A Journal of the Plague Year: [], London: [] E[lizabeth] Nutt []; J. Roberts []; A. Dodd []; and J. Graves [], →OCLC, page 3:

        This [suspicion of plague] poſſeſs’d the Heads of the People very much, and few car’d to go thro’ Drury-Lane, or the other Streets ſuſpected, unleſs they had extraordinary Buſineſs, that obliged them to it.

      • 1925, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, chapter I, in The Great Gatsby, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC; republished New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1953, →ISBN, page 17:

        I saw that turbulent emotions possessed her, so I asked what I thought would be some sedative questions about her little girl.

    3. Of a supernatural entity, especially one regarded as evil: to take control of (an animal or person’s body or mind).

      They thought he was possessed by evil spirits.

      • c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 268, column 1:

        If all the diuels of hell be drawne in little, and Legion himſelfe poſſeſt him, yet Ile ſpeake to him.

      • 1612, “If It Be Not Good, the Diuel is In It. []”, in The Dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker [], volume III, London: John Pearson [], published 1873, →OCLC, Act III, scene ii, page 309:

        I ſtand centinell perdu, and ſomebody dyes if I ſleepe, I am poſſeſt with the diuell and cannot ſleepe.

      • 1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of the Vertues Commonly Called Intellectuall; and Their Contrary Defects”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: [] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke, [], →OCLC, first part (Of Man), page 38:

        [I]t is manifeſt, that whoſoever behaved himſelfe in extraordinory manner, was thought by the Jewes to be poſſeſſed either with a good, or evill ſpirit; []

      • 1727, [Daniel Defoe], “How Wisdom and Learning Advanc’d Men in the First Ages to Royalty and Government, and How Many of the Magicians were Made Kings on that Account; as Zoroaster, Cadmus, and Many Others”, in A System of Magick; or, A History of the Black Art. [], London: [] J. Roberts [], →OCLC, page 55:

        But I am now talking of a Set of People who were not poſſeſs’d BY, but rather, as it may be called, are poſſeſs’d OF the Devil; []

    4. (also reflexive, chiefly literary and poetic) Of a person: to control or dominate (oneself or someone, or one’s own or someone’s heart, mind, etc.).
      • 1643 May 12 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 2 May 1643]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, [], volume I, 2nd edition, London: Henry Colburn, []; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, [], published 1819, →OCLC, page 30:

        Resolving to possess myself in some quiet if it might be, in a time of so great jealosy, I built by my Brother’s permission a study, made a fishpond, an island, and some other solitudes and retirements, at Wotton, which gave the first occasion of improving them to those water-works and gardens which afterwards succeeded them.

      • 1711 August 18 (Gregorian calendar), Joseph Addison; Richard Steele [et al.], “TUESDAY, August 7, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 137; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, [], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 218:

        Uneasy persons, who cannot possess their own minds, vent their spleen upon all who depend upon them; []

      1. To dominate (a person) sexually; to have sexual intercourse with (a person).
        • c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 201, column 2:

          Now tell me how long you would haue her, after you haue poſſeſt her?

        • 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 15: Circe]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, [], →OCLC, part II [Odyssey], page 472:

          She leads him towards the steps, drawing him by the odour of her armpits, the vice of her painted eyes, the rustle of her slip in whose sinuous folds lurks the lion reek of all the male brutes that have possessed her.

    5. (archaic)
      1. To cause an idea, thought, etc., to strongly affect or influence (someone); to inspire, to preoccupy.

        What on earth possessed you to go walking by the quarry at midnight?

        • c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 30, column 1:

          My eares are ſtopt, & cannot hear good newes, / So much of bad already hath poſſeſt them.

        • 1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Tvvoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: [] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, [], →OCLC:

          Heare is obſerued that in all cauſes the firſt tale poſſeſſeth much, in ſorte, that the preiudice, thereby wrought wil bee hardly remooued, excepte ſome abuſe or falſitie in the Information be detected.

        • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 8, column 1:

          What a ſtrange drowſines poſſeſſes them?

        • 1650, Thomas Browne, “A Further Illustration”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: [], 2nd edition, London: [] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, [], →OCLC, 1st book, page 33:

          Thus hath he deluded many Nations in his Auguriall and Extiſpicious inventions, from caſuall and uncontrived contingences divining events ſucceeding. Which Tuſcan ſuperſtition ſeaſing upon Rome hath ſince poſſeſſed all Europe.

        • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: [], London: [] Nath[aniel] Ponder [], →OCLC; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas, [], 1928, →OCLC, page 129:

          He [Envy] neither regardeth Prince nor People, Law nor Cuſtom: but doth all that he can to poſſeſs all men with certain of his diſloyal notions, which he in the general calls Principles of Faith and Holineſs.

        • 1782, William Cowper, “Charity”, in Poems, London: [] J[oseph] Johnson, [], →OCLC, page 207:

          At ev’ry ſtroke wit flaſhes in our eyes, / The turns are quick, the poliſh’d points ſurpriſe, / But ſhine with cruel and tremendous charms, / That while they pleaſe poſſeſs us with alarms: []

        • 1823, [Walter Scott], “The Envoy”, in Quentin Durward. [], volume I, Edinburgh: [] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, pages 187–188:

          Some male or female flatterer had, in evil hour, possessed him with the idea that there was much beauty of contour in a pair of huge substantial legs, which he had derived from his father, a car-man of Limoges; []

      2. To occupy the attention or time of (someone).
        • 1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], chapter I, in The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, [], London: [] T. Maxey for Rich[ard] Marriot, [], →OCLC; reprinted as The Compleat Angler (Homo Ludens; 6), Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands: Miland Publishers, 1969, →ISBN:

          [W]hen he [Henry Wotton] was beyond ſeventy years of age he made this deſcription of a part of the preſent pleaſure that poſſeſt him, []

        • 1719, [Daniel Defoe], The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; [], London: [] W[illiam] Taylor [], →OCLC, page 9:

          [M]y Head quite was turn’d with the Whimſies of foreign Adventures, and all the pleaſant Amuſements of my Farm, and my Garden, my Cattle, and my Family, which before entirely poſſeſt me, were nothing to me, had no Reliſh, and were like Muſick to one that has no Ear, or Food to one that has no Taſte: []

      3. (also literary) To obtain or seize (something); to gain, to win.
        • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. [], London: [] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 51, page 440:

          [T]hey in ſecret counſell cloſe conſpird, / How to effect ſo hard an enterprize, / And to poſſeſſe the purpoſe they deſird: []

        • 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 12:

          [T]here thou maiſt braine him, / Hauing firſt ſeiz’d his bookes: [] Remember / Firſt to poſſeſſe his Bookes; for without them / Hee’s but a Sot, as I am; []

      4. (also reflexive) Chiefly followed by of or with: to vest ownership of something in (oneself or someone); to bestow upon, to endow.
        Synonym: seise
        Antonyms: dispossess, unpossess
        • 1594, William Shakespeare, “The Argument”, in Lucrece (First Quarto), London: [] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, [], →OCLC:

          Lvcius Tarquinius (for his exceſſive pride ſurnamed Superbus) after hee had cauſed his owne father in law Seruius Tullius to be cruelly murdred, and contrarie to the Romaine lawes and cuſtomes, not requiring or ſtaying for the peoples ſuffrages, had poſſeſſed himſelfe of the kingdome: []

        • 1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. [] (First Quarto), London: [] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, [], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

          And for theſe great affaires do aske ſome charge, / Tovvards our aſsiſtance vve doe ſeaze to vs: / The Plate, coine, reuenevves, and moueables / VVhereof our Vnckle Gaunt did ſtand poſſeſt.

        • c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene xi], page 355, column 2:

          I will poſſeſſe you of that ſhip and Treaſure.

        • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 29”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. [][1], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:

          VVhen in diſgrace with Fortune and mens eyes, / I all alone bevveepe my out-caſt ſtate, / [] / VViſhing me like to one more rich in hope, Featur’d like him, like him with friends poſſeſt, / [] / For thy ſweet loue remembred ſuch vvelth brings, / That then I skorne to change my ſtate with Kings.

        • [1644], [John Milton], Of Education. To Master Samuel Hartlib, [London: [] Thomas Underhill and/or Thomas Johnson], →OCLC, page 2:

          The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our firſt parents by regaining to knovv God aright, and out of that knovvledge to love him, to imitate him, to be like him, as vve may the neereſt by poſſeſſing our ſouls of true vertue, vvhich being united to the heavenly grace of faith makes up the higheſt perfection.

        • 1791, Homer; W[illiam] Cowper, transl., “[The Iliad.] Book III.”, in The Iliad and Odyssey of Homer, Translated into Blank Verse, [], volume I, London: [] J[oseph] Johnson, [], →OCLC, lines 104–109, page 70:

          [H]e, the hoſts between, / With warlike Menelaus ſhall in fight / Contend for Helen, and for all her wealth. / Who ſtrongest proves, and conquers, he, of her / And her’s poſſeſt, ſhall bear them ſafe away, / And oaths of amity ſhall bind the reſt.

    6. (law) To have control or possession of, but not to own (a chattel or an interest in land).
    7. (obsolete)
      1. To give (someone) information or knowledge; to acquaint, to inform.
        • 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. [], quarto edition, London: [] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

          I cannot bid you bid my daughter liue, / That were impoſſible, but I pray you both, / Poſſeſs the people in Meſſina here, / How innocent ſhe died, []

        • c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 261, column 2:

          To[by Belch]. Poſſeſſe vs, poſſeſſe vs, tell vs ſomething of him. / Mar[ia]. Marrie ſir, ſometimes he is a kinde of Puritane.

        • 1634, T[homas] H[erbert], “Occurrents in Cazbeen”, in A Relation of Some Yeares Travaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, [], London: [] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC, page 123:

          The Pagan in ſhort told him, if hee had any more to poſſeſſe the King he ſhould firſt acquaint him, and conſequently haue an anſwer, to which our Ambaſſadour replyed little, tho diſcontented much, perceiuing by this, he ſhould haue no further acceſſe vnto the King, []

      2. To have the ability to use, or knowledge of (a language, a skill, etc.)
        • 1852, William Makepeace Thackeray, “Whither in the Time of Thomas, Third Viscount, I Had Preceded him, as Page to Isabella”, in The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. [] , volume I, London: [] Smith, Elder, & Company, [], →OCLC, page 65:

          And Mr. Holt found that Harry could read and write, and poſſeſſed the two languages of French and Engliſh very well, []

      3. To inhabit or occupy (a place).
        • 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. [], London: [] [Samuel Simmons], [], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: [], London: Basil Montagu Pickering [], 1873, →OCLC, lines 426–432:

          [W]ell thou knowſt / God hath pronounc’t it death to taſte that Tree, / The only ſign of our obedience left / Among ſo many ſignes of power and rule / Conferrd upon us, and Dominion giv’n / Over all other Creatures that poſſeſſe Earth, Aire, and Sea.

        • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: [], London: [] Nath[aniel] Ponder [], →OCLC; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas, [], 1928, →OCLC, page 16:

          Wherefore getting out again, on that ſide next to his own Houſe; he [Pliable] told me, I ſhould poſſeſs the brave Countrey alone for him: ſo he went his way, and I came mine.

        • 1725, [Daniel Defoe], “Part II”, in A New Voyage Round the World, by a Course Never Sailed before. [], London: [] A[rthur] Bettesworth, []; and W. Mears, [], →OCLC, page 115:

          [W]e are not willing to let any other Nation ſettle there, becauſe we would not let them ſee how weak we are, and what a vaſt Extent of Land we poſſeſs there with a few Men: []

      4. Chiefly followed by that: to convince or persuade (someone).
        • 1712, Humphry Polesworth [pseudonym; John Arbuthnot], “’’Jack’’’s Charms, or the Method by which He Gain’d ’’Peg’’’s Heart”, in John Bull Still in His Senses: Being the Third Part of Law is a Bottomless-Pit. [], London: [] John Morphew, [], →OCLC, page 12:

          By ſuch malicious Inſinuations, he had poſſeſs’d the Lady, that he was the only Man in the World, of a ſound, pure, and untainted Conſtitution: []

  2. (intransitive)
    1. To dominate sexually; to have sexual intercourse with.
    2. To inhabit or occupy a place.
      • 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v], page 373, column 2:

        Doſt thou thinke in time / She will not quench, and let inſtructions enter / Where Folly now poſſeſſes?

Conjugation[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

  • possessable, possessible
  • possessed (adjective, noun)
  • possessing (adjective, noun)
  • possessingly
  • unpossess
  • unpossessed (adjective)
  • unpossessing (adjective)

[edit]

  • dispossess
  • dispossessed (adjective)
  • dispossessee
  • dispossession
  • dispossessive
  • dispossessor
  • dispossessory
  • possession
  • possessional
  • possessionary
  • possessionate
  • possessioned
  • possessioner
  • possessionist
  • possessionistic
  • possessionless
  • possessival (obsolete)
  • possessive
  • possessively
  • possessiveness
  • possessor
  • possessoress (dated, rare)
  • possessorial
  • possessorship
  • possessory
  • unpossessable
  • unpossessive

Translations[edit]

to have (something) as, or as if as, an owner

  • Arabic: مَلَكَ (ar) (malaka), اِمْتَلَكَ(imtalaka), تَمَلَّكَ(tamallaka), حَازَ(ḥāza)
  • Armenian: տիրապետել (hy) (tirapetel), ունենալ (hy) (unenal)
  • Azerbaijani: malik *imək
  • Belarusian: вало́даць impf (valódacʹ)
  • Breton: perc’hennañ
  • Bulgarian: владе́я (bg) impf (vladéja), притежа́вам (bg) impf (pritežávam)
  • Catalan: posseir (ca)
  • Chinese:
    Mandarin: 抱有 (zh) (bàoyǒu), 具备 (zh) (jùbèi), 具有 (zh) (jùyǒu), 所有 (zh) (suǒyǒu), 具備具备 (zh) (jùbèi), 擁有拥有 (zh) (yōngyǒu)
  • Czech: vlastnit (cs) impf
  • Danish: besidde, eje (da)
  • Dutch: bezitten (nl)
  • Esperanto: (own) posedi (eo), havi (eo) (have)
  • Finnish: olla (fi), omata (fi) (a quality), omistaa (fi)
  • French: posséder (fr)
  • Galician: posuír (gl), ter (gl)
  • Georgian: ფლობს (plobs)
  • German: besitzen (de)
  • Gothic: 𐌰𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌽 (aigan), 𐌳𐌹𐍃𐌽𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 (disniman)
  • Greek: διαθέτω (el) (diathéto), έχω (el) (écho), κατέχω (el) (katécho)
    Ancient: κέκτημαι (kéktēmai)
  • Hungarian: bír (hu) (obsolete), birtokol (hu) (literally to own), rendelkezik (hu) (literally to dispose of), van (hu) (literally to have)
  • Irish: bí + object + ag + subject (literally object is at subject)
    Old Irish: techtaid
  • Italian: possedere (it), avere (it)
  • Japanese: 占有する (ja) (せんゆうする, senyū suru), 所持する (ja) (しょじする, shoji suru), 所有する (ja) (しょゆうする, shoyū suru)
  • Khmer: មាន (km) (miən), ជាម្ចាស់ (ciə mcah)
  • Korean: 소지하다 (ko) (sojihada), 소유하다 (ko) (soyuhada)
  • Latin: possideō, habeō (la), teneō (la)
  • Macedonian: поседува impf (poseduva)
  • Norwegian:
    Bokmål: besitte (no), eie (no), inneha
  • Old Church Slavonic:
    Cyrillic: владѣти impf (vladěti)
  • Old East Slavic: володѣти impf (voloděti)
  • Old English: āgan, āgnian, besittan
  • Persian: داشتن (fa) (dâštan)
  • Polish: posiadać (pl) impf
  • Portuguese: possuir (pt), ter (pt)
  • Romanian: poseda (ro), avea (ro), deține (ro)
  • Russian: облада́ть (ru) impf (obladátʹ), владе́ть (ru) impf (vladétʹ), име́ть (ru) (imétʹ)
  • Sanskrit: ईष्टे (īṣṭe)
  • Serbo-Croatian:
    Cyrillic: по́седовати impf, по́сједовати impf
    Roman: pósedovati impf, pósjedovati (sh) impf
  • Slovak: vlastniť impf
  • Slovene: posedovati impf
  • Spanish: poseer (es)
  • Swedish: äga (sv), besitta (sv), inneha (sv)
  • Tagalog: mag-ari
  • Thai: ครอบครอง (th) (krɔ̂ɔp-krɔɔng)
  • Turkish: malik olmak (tr), sahip olmak (tr)
  • Ukrainian: володі́ти impf (volodíty)
  • Vietnamese: sở hữu (vi)
  • Welsh: meddu (cy)
  • Zhuang: miz

of an idea, thought, etc.: to dominate (someone’s mind)

of a supernatural entity, especially one regarded as evil: to take control of (an animal or person’s body or mind)

  • Bulgarian: обсебвам (bg) (obsebvam), завладявам (bg) (zavladjavam)
  • Catalan: posseir (ca)
  • Chinese:
    Mandarin: 附身 (zh) (fùshēn)
  • Czech: posednout
  • Danish: besætte (da)
  • Dutch: bezit nemen van
  • Finnish: ottaa valtaansa, riivata (fi)
  • French: posséder (fr), s’emparer de (fr) (literally to get a hold of)
  • German: besitzen (de)
  • Hungarian: hatalmába kerít (hu), megszáll (hu)
  • Italian: possedere (it)
  • Japanese: 支配する (ja) (しはいする, shihai suru), 取り憑く (ja) (とりつく, toritsuku)
  • Latin: teneo (la)
  • Maore Comorian: uhea
  • Maori: uru (of a spirit)
  • Polish: opętać (pl) pf
  • Portuguese: possuir (pt)
  • Spanish: poseer (es)
  • Tagalog: sumanib
  • Telugu: ఆవేశించు (te) (āvēśiñcu)
  • Thai: สิง (th) (sǐng)

to control or dominate (oneself or someone, or one’s own or someone’s heart, mind, etc.)

to vest ownership of something in (oneself or someone) see bestow,‎ endow

to cause an idea, thought, etc., to strongly affect or influence (someone) see inspire,‎ preoccupy

to occupy the attention or time of (someone)

to obtain or seize (something) see gain,‎ win

(law) to have control or possession of, but not to own (a chattel or an interest in land)

to dominate sexually; to have sexual intercourse with see copulate

References[edit]

  1. ^ “possessen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. ^ “possess, v.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2021; “possess, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Further reading[edit]

  • possession (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Other forms: possessed; possesses; possessing

To possess something is to have or own it. You can possess a physical object, you can possess a particular quality or skill, or you can possess control or influence over someone.

Related words are possessive (describing those who hold onto people or things in a controlling way), and possessed, as in a person being possessed by an idea or even by a demon. This verb is from Middle French posséder «to own,» from Latin possidēre, from potis «able, having the power» plus sedēre «to sit.»

Definitions of possess

  1. verb

    have ownership or possession of

    synonyms:

    have, own

    feature, have

    have as a feature

  2. verb

    have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

    “he
    possesses great knowledge about the Middle East”

  3. verb

    enter into and control, as of emotions or ideas

    “What
    possessed you to buy this house?”

    “A terrible rage
    possessed her”

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘possess’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback

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pos·sess

 (pə-zĕs′)

tr.v. pos·sessed, pos·sess·ing, pos·sess·es

1.

a. To have as property; own: possess great wealth.

b. Law To have under one’s power or control: possess illegal drugs.

2.

a. To have as a quality, characteristic, or other attribute: possesses great tact.

b. To have mastery or knowledge of: possess a knowledge of Sanskrit; possess valuable information.

3.

a. To gain control or power over. Used of a demon or spirit.

b. To occupy fully the mind or feelings of: The dancers were possessed by the music.

c. Often Offensive To have sexual intercourse with (a woman).

d. Archaic To control or maintain (one’s nature) in a particular condition: I possessed my temper despite the insult.

4. Archaic To cause (oneself) to own, hold, or master something, such as property or knowledge.

5. Archaic To gain or seize.



pos·ses′sor n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

possess

(pəˈzɛs)

vb (tr)

1. to have as one’s property; own

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

3. to have knowledge or mastery of: to possess a little French.

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

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

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

7. to have sexual intercourse with

8. 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.

9. archaic to gain or seize

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

posˈsessor n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pos•sess

(pəˈzɛs)

v.t.

1. to have as belonging to one; have as property; own.

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

3. (of a spirit, esp. an evil one) to occupy or control (a person) from within: be possessed by demons.

4. (of a feeling, idea, etc.) to dominate or actuate in the manner of such a spirit.

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

6. to have knowledge of, as a language.

7. to keep or maintain in a certain state, as of peace or patience.

8. to make (someone) owner, holder, or master, as of property or information.

9. (of a man) to have sexual intercourse with.

10. to seize or take; gain.

[1425–75; late Middle English possesen < Middle French possess(i)er, n. derivative of possession possession]

pos•ses′sor, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

possess

The verb possess is usually used to say that someone or something has a quality, ability, or feature.

Energetic and sagacious, Snodgrass possessed the very qualities needed.

For hundreds of years London possessed only one bridge.

This is a fairly formal use. In conversation, you do not use ‘possess’. Instead you use have or have got.

In legal English, if you possess an object or substance, you own it or have it with you.

They were found guilty of possessing petrol bombs.

…the arrest of the mayor on charges of possessing cocaine.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

possess

Past participle: possessed
Gerund: possessing

Imperative
possess
possess
Present
I possess
you possess
he/she/it possesses
we possess
you possess
they possess
Preterite
I possessed
you possessed
he/she/it possessed
we possessed
you possessed
they possessed
Present Continuous
I am possessing
you are possessing
he/she/it is possessing
we are possessing
you are possessing
they are possessing
Present Perfect
I have possessed
you have possessed
he/she/it has possessed
we have possessed
you have possessed
they have possessed
Past Continuous
I was possessing
you were possessing
he/she/it was possessing
we were possessing
you were possessing
they were possessing
Past Perfect
I had possessed
you had possessed
he/she/it had possessed
we had possessed
you had possessed
they had possessed
Future
I will possess
you will possess
he/she/it will possess
we will possess
you will possess
they will possess
Future Perfect
I will have possessed
you will have possessed
he/she/it will have possessed
we will have possessed
you will have possessed
they will have possessed
Future Continuous
I will be possessing
you will be possessing
he/she/it will be possessing
we will be possessing
you will be possessing
they will be possessing
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been possessing
you have been possessing
he/she/it has been possessing
we have been possessing
you have been possessing
they have been possessing
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been possessing
you will have been possessing
he/she/it will have been possessing
we will have been possessing
you will have been possessing
they will have been possessing
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been possessing
you had been possessing
he/she/it had been possessing
we had been possessing
you had been possessing
they had been possessing
Conditional
I would possess
you would possess
he/she/it would possess
we would possess
you would possess
they would possess
Past Conditional
I would have possessed
you would have possessed
he/she/it would have possessed
we would have possessed
you would have possessed
they would have possessed

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Verb 1. possess — have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill; «he possesses great knowledge about the Middle East»

feature, have — have as a feature; «This restaurant features the most famous chefs in France»

exhibit — show an attribute, property, knowledge, or skill; «he exhibits a great talent»

2. possess — have ownership or possession of; «He owns three houses in Florida»; «How many cars does she have?»

feature, have — have as a feature; «This restaurant features the most famous chefs in France»

3. possess — enter into and control, as of emotions or ideas; «What possessed you to buy this house?»; «A terrible rage possessed her»

dominate — be in control; «Her husband completely dominates her»

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

possess

verb

1. own, have, hold, be in possession of, be the owner of, have in your possession, have to your name He is said to possess a huge fortune.

4. seize, hold, control, dominate, occupy, haunt, take someone over, bewitch, take possession of, have power over, have mastery over It was as if the spirit of his father possessed him.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

possess

verb

1. To keep at one’s disposal:

2. To hold on one’s person:

3. To have the use or benefit of:

4. To have at one’s disposal:

5. To be endowed with as a visible characteristic or form:

6. To dominate the mind or thoughts of:

The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

vlastnitmít

besiddeeje

haviposedi

omistaa

posjedovati

eiga

所有する

소유하다

savininkiškaisavininkiškassavininkiškumassavybinisvalda

būtpiederēt

imeti v posesti

besitta

เป็นเจ้าของ

sở hữu

possess

[pəˈzes] VT

2. (= control, take over) to be possessed by an ideaestar poseido por una idea
whatever can have possessed you?¿cómo se te ocurrió?
what can have possessed you to think like that?¿cómo has podido pensar así?

Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

possess

[pəˈzɛs] vtpossedere
like one possessed → come un ossesso
to be possessed by an idea → essere ossessionato/a da un’idea
whatever can have possessed you? → cosa ti ha preso?

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

possess

(pəˈzes) verb

to own or have. How much money does he possess?

posˈsession (-ʃən) noun

1. something which is owned by a person, country etc. She lost all her possessions in the fire.

2. the state of possessing.

posˈsessive (-siv) adjective

1. showing that someone or something possesses an object etc. `Yours’, `mine’, `his’, `hers’, `theirs’ are possessive pronouns; `your’, `my’, `his’, `their’ are possessive adjectives.

2. acting as though things and people are one’s personal possessions. a possessive mother.

posˈsessively adverbposˈsessiveness nounposˈsessor noun

He is the proud possessor of a new car.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

possess

يـَمْتَلِك vlastnit besidde besitzen κατέχω poseer omistaa posséder posjedovati possedere 所有する 소유하다 bezitten være i besittelse av posiąść possuir обладать besitta เป็นเจ้าของ sahip olmak sở hữu 占有

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

possess

v. poseer, tener.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

My abode is humble: in the midst of an orchard, which my father planted: but I possess a few books, some of them curious, and should like to _read_ double the number I _possess_. » ❋ Thomas Frognall Dibdin (1811)

The unusual quality they possess is that they are fluoresce in UV light or a common black light and will literally glow in the black light. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The fourth quality one must possess is discipline. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I just read an essay by Montaigne where he makes the same point you did, that the only thing you truly possess is yourself. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The third quality one must possess is self-determination. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The second quality one must possess is the willingness to invest time and effort even if direct results do not seem at all apparent. ❋ Unknown (2009)

The history of Tamil invasions against the only homeland that the Buddhist Sinhalese possess is not just the stuff of ancient history, but a living reality underpinned by latter-day Tamil terrorism. ❋ Unknown (2009)

What measure of civilization they do possess is exotic. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Such identity as they do possess is invariably generated by the role they play in cloaking abstractions; and these, which tend to vary according to whichever fragment of papyrus or pyramid text is being quoted, rarely make for gripping narrative. ❋ Tom Holland (2010)

The only thing I really want to possess is books: try not to think too badly of me. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The fifth and last quality one must possess is optimism. ❋ Unknown (2009)

But with defensive end Pernell McPhee returning, State should again possess a dangerous pass rush. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The expertise they possess is a matter of knowledge, which is distinct from rationality. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The most important thing which an enterprise should possess is the ability to believe in oneself and should go after that religiously. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I was looking for pictures to upload of our powder-y dumps, but all I possess is a cell phone camera. ❋ Unknown (2009)

But I’ve got a bad news … on your homepage you say that «Mine to possess» is already out. ❋ Nalini Singh (2008)

[Anna] [Blount] is the most [possessive]. ❋ Ebrown13 (2020)

Richard: «[I own] this joint, because I [payed] for it, that’s how possession works. Welcome to basis of [free trade].» ❋ Incognitoyou’regay (2009)

Hym “[Oh gosh] [golly] [bujesus]! Why is he treating all of them like they’re possessed by an ideology!? God, I’m going to need a couple dozen PhDs to figure this one out!” ❋ Hym Iam (2022)

[Possessed] [reinvented] [the metal] genre. ❋ Matt (2005)

Person 1 — Damn!
Person 2 — What’s up?
Person 1 — Just Listening to [Poison] [Penmanship], Possessed is [a BEAST]!
Person 2 — Hell yea ❋ Sick Rhymes (2009)

[Oh crap]! He has the power of [possession]!
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Definition: The power to control someone.
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Also: That is [David’s] possession.
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Definition 2: something that someone owns. ❋ CrypticGamer (2016)

1. My brother, [Leroy], possesses a lot of [debt].
2. I can’t get caught in possession, because my brother, Leroy, possesses [the stolen] goods, yo. ❋ Evuh (2005)

[Jermey] looks really [possessed] when he’s [sleeping] ❋ The Demon Doctor (2019)

«Yo dawg, you see [Porl] last night?»
«Yeah, he and his new BF were totally possessed.»
«[Whoaa] [cool man].» ❋ Tuncay7 (2013)

[Spawn of Possession] is from [Sweden] and one the greatest underground [tech]. death bands in the world. ❋ CrissyMonster (2007)

transitive verb

1

b

: to have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

2

a

: to seize and take control of : take into one’s possession

b

: to enter into and control firmly : dominate

c

: to bring or cause to fall under the influence, domination, or control of some emotional or intellectual response or reaction

3

b

: to make the owner or holder

used in passive construction to indicate simple possession

possessed of richespossessed of knowledge and experience

Synonyms

Example Sentences

What would possess seemingly sane people to treat concrete walls like trampolines?


Alice Park, Time, 16 Apr. 2007


People who experience specific colors when looking at particular letters, such as seeing sky blue when shown an R, possess an unusual abundance of connections in brain areas involved in word and color perception, a new brain-imaging investigation finds.


Bruce Bower, Science News, 26 May 2007


What does matter is that we come to recognize that playfulness, as a philosophical stance, can be very serious, indeed; and, moreover, that it possesses an unfailing capacity to arouse ridicule and hostility in those among us who crave certainty, reverence, and restraint.


Tom Robbins, Harper’s, September 2004



nations that possess nuclear weapons



The defendant was charged with possessing cocaine.



The ruby was once possessed by an ancient queen.



He dreams of someday possessing great wealth.



He possesses a keen wit.



The drug possesses the potential to suppress tumors.



Do dolphins possess the ability to use language?

See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Erbil does not possess even attack helicopters to this day.


Paul Iddon, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2023





The scientists accomplished photonic time reflections using a metamaterial—a kind of structure engineered to possess features not generally found in nature, such as the ability to bend light in unexpected ways.


IEEE Spectrum, 21 Mar. 2023





Organizations now expect their managers to possess soft and hard skills, with a strong focus on communication, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).


Lakshmi Raj, Quartz, 17 Mar. 2023





Boston Strangler doesn’t quite possess the tight and taut storytelling of Fincher’s Zodiac, but seeing Knightley determinedly run around with a pen and notepad makes for a good night in.


James Grebey, Vulture, 17 Mar. 2023





James Rose, an avid angler and professor emeritus of zoology at the University of Wyoming, has claimed fish don’t possess a human-like capacity for pain because our nociceptors—neural cells that transmit pain reflexively—are different.


Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2023





According to them, many homeowners choose to use wheelbarrows that possess buckets made of plastic or polypropylene for this reason.


Nor’adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2023





While the monkeys possess the latter, the former doesn’t apply, scientists believe.


Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2023





McRae was required to forfeit the Ruger LCP .380 pistol and not own or possess any firearms as conditions of his plea and probation.


Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2023



See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘possess.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French possesser to have possession of, take possession of, from Latin possessus, past participle of possidēre, from potis able, having the power + sedēre to sit — more at potent, sit

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of possess was
in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near possess

Cite this Entry

“Possess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possess. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

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29 Mar 2023
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  • 1
    possess

    1) облада́ть, владе́ть;

    to be possessed of smth. облада́ть чем-л.

    ;

    to possess oneself of smth. овладе́ть чем-л.

    2) уде́рживать, сохраня́ть ( терпение

    и т.п.

    );

    3) овладева́ть, захва́тывать (о чувстве, настроении

    и т.п.

    );

    Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > possess

  • 2
    possess

    Персональный Сократ > possess

  • 3
    possess

    1. I

    2. III

    1) possess smth. possess property иметь собственность и т.д.; possess land владеть землей; possess rights иметь права, обладать правами; this museum possesses many objects of interest в этом музее [имеется] много интересных экспонатов

    2) possess smth. possess character обладать [сильным] характером и т.д., иметь характер и т.д.; she possesses considerable knowledge for a young girl она обладает большими знаниями для такой молоденькой девушки; а dog possesses a keen sense of smell у собаки развито чувство обоняния, у собаки острый нюх

    3) possess smb., smth. anger possessed him его обуял /охватил/ гнев; only one thought possessed his mind им владела лишь одна мысль

    3. IV

    possess smth. in some manner possess smth. legally законно и т.д. владеть чем-л.

    4. XI

    1) be possessed you are [surely] possessed вы одержимы /не в себе/; he fought like one possessed он дрался как одержимый; be possessed with /by/ smth. be possessed with an idea быть одержимым идеей и т.д.; be possessed with doubt быть во власти сомнений и т.д., быть охваченным сомнениями и т.д.

    2) be possessed of smth. book. be possessed of a quality обладать /владеть, быть наделенным/ каким-л. качеством и т.д.; his work is scarcely possessed of any literary merit вряд ли его произведения обладают какими-либо литературными достоинствами; he is possessed of certain facts в его распоряжении имеются определенные данные /факты/

    English-Russian dictionary of verb phrases > possess

  • 4
    possess

    [pəˈzes]

    possess обладать, владеть; to be possessed (of smth.) обладать (чем-л.) possess овладевать, захватывать (о чувстве, настроении и т. п.); to be possessed (by (или with) smth.) быть одержимым (чем-л.) every human being possessed of reason всякий разумный человек; to possess oneself (of smth.) овладеть (чем-л.) possess владеть possess обладать, владеть; to be possessed (of smth.) обладать (чем-л.) possess обладать possess овладевать, захватывать (о чувстве, настроении и т. п.); to be possessed (by (или with) smth.) быть одержимым (чем-л.) to possess oneself (или one’s soul, one’s mind) владеть собой; запастись терпением every human being possessed of reason всякий разумный человек; to possess oneself (of smth.) овладеть (чем-л.) you are surely possessed вы с ума сошли; what possessed him to do it? что его дернуло сделать это? you are surely possessed вы с ума сошли; what possessed him to do it? что его дернуло сделать это?

    English-Russian short dictionary > possess

  • 5
    possess

    1. v обладать, владеть

    2. v арх. брать; овладевать

    3. v сохранять; владеть

    4. v овладевать, захватывать

    5. v редк. владеть; знать, уметь

    6. v уст. сообщать, извещать

    7. v овладеть женщиной

    Синонимический ряд:

    4. have (verb) boast; command; contain; control; enjoy; exhibit; have; hold; maintain; manifest; occupy; own; retain

    Антонимический ряд:

    forfeit; lose; resign; surrender

    English-Russian base dictionary > possess

  • 6
    possess

    [pəʹzes]

    1. 1) обладать, владеть

    to possess property [wealth] — владеть имуществом [богатством]

    to possess courage [good qualities] — обладать мужеством [хорошими качествами]

    to possess oneself of smth. — приобретать что-л.; овладевать чем-л.

    2. сохранять (); владеть ()

    to possess oneself /one’s soul, one’s mind/ — владеть собою, сохранять хладнокровие /спокойствие/

    to possess one’s soul in patience — запастись /обладать/ терпением

    3. овладевать, захватывать ()

    what possessed him to act so? — что дёрнуло /заставило/ его поступить таким образом?

    4.

    владеть (); знать, уметь

    5. (of, with)

    сообщать, извещать

    he possessed them of the facts — он сообщил /представил/ им факты

    6. овладеть женщиной

    НБАРС > possess

  • 7
    possess

    Англо-русский синонимический словарь > possess

  • 8
    possess

    pəˈzes гл.
    1) а) владеть, иметь, обладать, располагать( какими-л. материальными объектами) Land that is possessed by the city should be turned into parks. ≈ Земля, находящаяся в собственности города, должна быть отведена под парки. Syn: have, hold, keep, own Ant: borrow, dispossess, relinquish б) обладать способностями, возможностями (делать что-л.)
    2) архаич. брать;
    овладевать At what date do you intend to possess yourself of the house? ≈ Когда ты вступишь во владение домом?
    3) владеть собой;
    сохранять (терпение, спокойствие и т. п.) to possess oneself( one’s soul, one’s mind) ≈ владеть собою, сохранять хладнокровие
    4) овладевать, захватывать( о чувстве, настроении и т. п.)
    обладать, владеть — to * property владеть имуществом — to * courage обладать мужеством — to * sprinting ability( спортивное) обладать сильным рывком (устаревшее) брать;
    овладевать — to * oneself of smth. приобретать что-л.;
    овладевать чем-л. сохранять (спокойствие, терпение, самообладание и т. п.) ;
    владеть (собой) — to * oneself /one’s soul, one’s mind/ владеть собою, сохранять хладнокровие /спокойствие/ — to * one’s soul in patience запастись /обладать/ терпением — he *es his soul in peace душа у него спокойна овладевать, захватывать (о чувстве, настроении и т. п.) — melancholy *es him он погружен в меланхолию — a demon *ed her в нее бес вселился — what *ed him to act so? что дернуло /заставило/ его поступить таким образом? (редкое) владеть (языком) ;
    знать, уметь — to * Greek poetry знать греческую поэзию (of, with) (устаревшее) сообщать, извещать — he *ed them of the facts он сообщил /представил/ им факты овладеть женщиной
    ~ обладать, владеть;
    to be possessed( of smth.) обладать (чем-л.) ~ овладевать, захватывать (о чувстве, настроении и т. п.) ;
    to be possessed (by (или with) smth.) быть одержимым (чем-л.)
    every human being possessed of reason всякий разумный человек;
    to possess oneself (of smth.) овладеть (чем-л.)
    possess владеть ~ обладать, владеть;
    to be possessed (of smth.) обладать (чем-л.) ~ обладать ~ овладевать, захватывать (о чувстве, настроении и т. п.) ;
    to be possessed (by (или with) smth.) быть одержимым (чем-л.)
    to ~ oneself (или one’s soul, one’s mind) владеть собой;
    запастись терпением every human being possessed of reason всякий разумный человек;
    to possess oneself (of smth.) овладеть (чем-л.)
    you are surely possessed вы с ума сошли;
    what possessed him to do it? что его дернуло сделать это?
    you are surely possessed вы с ума сошли;
    what possessed him to do it? что его дернуло сделать это?

    Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > possess

  • 9
    possess of

    English-Russian base dictionary > possess of

  • 10
    possess

    English-Russian big medical dictionary > possess

  • 11
    possess

    verb

    1) обладать, владеть; to be possessed of smth. обладать чем-л.; every human being possessed of reason всякий разумный человек; to possess oneself of smth. овладеть чем-л.; to possess oneself (или one’s soul, one’s mind) владеть собой; запастись терпением

    2) овладевать, захватывать (о чувстве, настроении и т. п.); to be possessed by (или with) smth. быть одержимым чем-л.; you are surely possessed вы с ума сошли; what possessed him to do it? что его дернуло сделать это?

    Syn:

    have, hold, keep, own

    Ant:

    borrow, dispossess, relinquish

    * * *

    (v) владеть; обладать

    * * *

    владеть, обладать

    * * *

    [pos·sess || pə’zes]
    обладать, владеть, овладевать, сохранять, удерживать, захватывать

    * * *

    владейте

    владеть

    захватывать

    иметь

    маты

    мать

    обладайте

    обладать

    овладевать

    овладеть

    охватить

    охватывать

    располагать

    родительница

    сохранять

    * * *

    1) а) владеть, иметь, обладать, располагать
    б) обладать способностями, возможностями (делать что-л.)
    2) архаич. брать

    Новый англо-русский словарь > possess

  • 12
    possess

    [pə’zes]

    гл.

    1)

    а) владеть, иметь, обладать, располагать

    Land that is possessed by the city should be turned into parks. — Земля, находящаяся в собственности города, должна быть отведена под парки.

    Syn:

    Ant:

    б) обладать способностями, возможностями

    2)

    уст.

    брать; овладевать

    3) владеть собой; сохранять

    to possess oneself / one’s soul / one’s mind — владеть собою, сохранять хладнокровие

    4) овладевать, захватывать

    Англо-русский современный словарь > possess

  • 13
    possess

    [pə’zes]

    v

    владеть, иметь, обладать

    Land that is possessed by the city should be turned into parks. — Земля, находящаяся в собственности города, должна быть отведена под парки.

    possess land


    — possess power

    USAGE:

    English-Russian combinatory dictionary > possess

  • 14
    possess

    Англо-русский технический словарь > possess

  • 15
    possess

    [pə’zes]

    1) Общая лексика: владеть, завладевать, завладеть, захватить, захватывать, знать, извещать, иметь, обладать, овладевать , овладеть, овладеть женщиной, уметь, захватывать , владеть , сохранять , располагать, обзавестись

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > possess

  • 16
    possess

    English-Russian word troubles > possess

  • 17
    possess

    English-russian dctionary of contemporary Economics > possess

  • 18
    possess

    possessed required rating

    обладает требуемой квалификацией

    possess stability

    обладать устойчивостью

    English-Russian aviation dictionary > possess

  • 19
    possess

    владеть ; обладать ;

    Англо-Русский словарь финансовых терминов > possess

  • 20
    possess

    pəˈzesиметь, располагать, владеть, обладать

    Англо-русский словарь экономических терминов > possess

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См. также в других словарях:

  • Possess — Pos*sess (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Possessed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Possessing}.] [L. possessus, p. p. of possidere to have, possess, from an inseparable prep. (cf. {Position}) + sedere to sit. See {Sit}.] 1. To occupy in person; to hold or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • possess — pos·sess /pə zes/ vt: to have possession of Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. possess I …   Law dictionary

  • possess — pos‧sess [pəˈzes] verb [transitive] formal 1. to own or have something, especially something valuable or important, or something illegal: • The US is the only country that possesses global economic, military and political power. • Judges rarely… …   Financial and business terms

  • 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… …   Etymology dictionary

  • possess — [pə zes′] vt. [LME < MFr possessier < L possessus, pp. of possidere, to possess < pos , contr. < potis, able (see POTENT) + sedere, to sit] 1. to hold as property or occupy in person; have as something that belongs to one; own 2. to… …   English World dictionary

  • possess — own, enjoy, hold, *have Analogous words: control, manage, direct, *conduct: retain, *keep, reserve, withhold …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • possess — [v] have or obtain acquire, bear, be blessed with, be born with, be endowed with, carry, control, corner*, corner the market*, dominate, enjoy, get hands on*, get hold of*, grab, have to name*, hog*, hold, latch on to, lock up, maintain, occupy,… …   New thesaurus

  • possess — ► VERB 1) have as property; own. 2) (also be possessed of) have as an ability, quality, or characteristic. 3) (of a demon or spirit) have complete power over. 4) (of an emotion, idea, etc.) dominate the mind of. ● what possessed you? Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • possess — possessor, n. possessorship, n. /peuh zes /, v.t. 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, esp. an evil one) to occupy …   Universalium

  • possess — [[t]pəze̱s[/t]] possesses, possessing, possessed 1) VERB: no passive If you possess something, you have it or own it. [V n] He was then arrested and charged with possessing an offensive weapon… [V n] He is said to possess a fortune o …   English dictionary

  • possess */*/*/ — UK [pəˈzes] / US verb [transitive] Word forms possess : present tense I/you/we/they possess he/she/it possesses present participle possessing past tense possessed past participle possessed 1) formal to own a physical object They were all found… …   English dictionary

possess: translation

Synonyms and related words:

achieve, acquire, appreciate, apprehend, be acquainted with, be apprised of, be aware of, be cognizant of, be conscious of, be conversant with, be enfeoffed of, be informed, be possessed of, be seized of, bear, bedevil, beset, bewitch, boast, captivate, carry, catch up, charm, claim, clap hands on, clasp, claw, clench, clinch, clutch, cognize, come by, come into, command, compel, comprehend, conceive, conceptualize, consume, contain, control, demonize, devilize, diabolize, discern, dominate, drain off, draw off, drive, embody, embrace, enchant, enjoy, fathom, fill, gain, get, get hold of, glom on to, govern, grab, grab hold of, grapple, grasp, grip, gripe, hant, haunt, have, have and hold, have in hand, have information about, have knowledge of, have tenure of, hex, hold, hoodoo, hug, impel, include, infatuate, jinx, ken, know, lay hands on, lay hold of, loot, make out, nail, nip, nip up, not let go, obsess, obtain, occupy, overlook, own, palm, partake, perceive, pillage, pocket, prehend, preoccupy, procure, realize, receive, recognize, retain, savvy, secure, see, seize, snap up, snatch, spook, squat, squat on, steal, take, take by assault, take by storm, take hold of, take possession, take possession of, understand, usucapt, voodoo, whip up, win, witch, wot, wot of

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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.

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Origin of possess

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

synonym study for possess

OTHER WORDS FROM possess

pos·ses·sor, nounpos·ses·sor·ship, nounun·der·pos·ses·sor, nounun·pos·sess·ing, adjective

Words nearby possess

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to possess

acquire, carry, enjoy, maintain, occupy, own, retain, seize, bear, control, corner, dominate, grab, hog, hold, corner the market, get hold of, lock up, sit on, take over

How to use possess in a sentence

  • For the companies that didn’t participate, it raises the concern that they might possess information that indicates the toxic metals in their foods might be even higher than their competitors.

  • A just society must be consciously constructed by citizens possessing certain virtues.

  • Not only does it have a spike protein mutation that could lead to a higher infection rate, it possesses what’s called an “escape mutation.”

  • They also possess their own first- and second-round draft choices.

  • By implication, Earth must therefore possess some climate-stabilising feedbacks but at the same time good fortune must also have been involved in it staying habitable.

  • As a white, educated, Western, middle-class male, I possess most of the unearned privilege the world has to offer.

  • That thing we seemed to possess was not the other, but an image of them we formed—they themselves are still free.

  • I know that many people do not feel they possess their partners and lovers.

  • In fact, the original Burroughs books possess a clear “green” streak that now seems quite prescient.

  • The Fish and Wildlife officer told him that it was illegal to possess a protected species or a raptor.

  • Any one may possess the portrait of a tragedian without exciting suspicion or comment.

  • Not a dollar did he possess—not even did he have a suit of clothes any more, and wore every day his corduroys.

  • My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I possess a good possession.

  • «Doa Estefania, have no fear; you possess an infallible preservative,» exclaimed the cappellan.

  • Tausig, in my opinion, did possess exceptional genius in composition, though he left but few works behind him to attest it.

British Dictionary definitions for possess


verb (tr)

to have as one’s property; own

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

to have knowledge or mastery ofto possess a little French

to gain control over or dominatewhatever possessed you to act so foolishly?

(foll by of) to cause to be the owner or possessorI 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 conditionpossess 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

Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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