possess

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

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

   To have (something) as, or as if as, an owner; to have, to own.

   • He does not even possess a working telephone.
   • 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.
2. 2

   Of an idea, thought, etc.

   Of an idea, thought, etc.: to dominate (someone's mind); to strongly influence.

   • I am poſſeſt with an adulterate blot, / My bloud is mingled with the crime of luſt: […]
   • 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.
   • A horrid mistrust of the whole house possessed me. I saw it in the light of a deadly trap.
3. 3

   Of a supernatural entity, especially one regarded as evil

   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.
   • If all the diuels of hell be drawne in little, and Legion himſelfe poſſeſt him, yet Ile ſpeake to him.
   • I ſtand centinell perdu, and ſomebody dyes if I ſleepe, I am poſſeſt with the diuell and cannot ſleepe.
4. ›+ 12 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Of a person

      Of a person: to control or dominate (oneself or someone, or one's own or someone's heart, mind, etc.).

      • Uneasy persons, who cannot possess their own minds, vent their spleen upon all who depend upon them; […]
      • Take me—mould me to your will, possess my heart and soul to all eternity.
   2. 5

      To cause an idea, thought, etc., to strongly affect or influence (someone)

      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?
      • My eares are ſtopt, & cannot hear good newes, / So much of bad already hath poſſeſt them.
      • 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.
   3. 6

      To occupy the attention or time of (someone).

      • [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, […]
   4. 7

      To obtain or seize (something)

      To obtain or seize (something); to gain, to win.

      • [T]hey in ſecret counſell cloſe conſpird, / How to effect ſo hard an enterprize, / And to poſſeſſe the purpoſe they deſird: […]
      • [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; […]
   5. 8

      Chiefly followed by of or with

      Chiefly followed by of or with: to vest ownership of something in (oneself or someone); to bestow upon, to endow.

      • 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.
      • I will poſſeſſe you of that ſhip and Treaſure.
   6. 9

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

   7. 10

      To give (someone) information or knowledge

      To give (someone) information or knowledge; to acquaint, to inform.

      • 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, […]
      • To[by Belch]. Poſſeſſe vs, poſſeſſe vs, tell vs ſomething of him. / Mar[ia]. Marrie ſir, ſometimes he is a kinde of Puritane.
   8. 11

      To have the ability to use, or knowledge of (a language, a skill, etc.)

      • And Mr. Holt found that Harry could read and write, and poſſeſſed the two languages of French and Engliſh very well, […]
   9. 12

      To inhabit or occupy (a place).

      • 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.
      • [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: […]
   10. 13

       Chiefly followed by that

       Chiefly followed by that: to convince or persuade (someone).

       • 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: […]
   11. 14

       To dominate sexually

       To dominate sexually; to have sexual intercourse with.

   12. 15

       To inhabit or occupy a place.

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

The neighborhood

• synonymhave
• synonymhold
• synonymown
• synonympossess
• antonymgo without
• antonymlose
• neighbordispossess
• neighbordispossessed
• neighbordispossessee
• neighbordispossession
• neighbordispossessive
• neighbordispossessor
• neighbordispossessory
• neighborpossession
• neighborpossessional
• neighborpossessionary
• neighborpossessionate
• neighborpossessioned