What is the meaning of the word possess

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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

Страницы

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

Источник

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

Источник

transitive verb

: to have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

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

: to enter into and control firmly : dominate

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

: 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?

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.

More from Merriam-Webster on possess

Last Updated:
29 Mar 2023
— Updated example sentences

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

Источник

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)

(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: […]
(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]

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

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