Definitions for possess
pəˈzɛspos·sess

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. possess(verb)

   have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill

   "he possesses great knowledge about the Middle East"

2. own, have, possess(verb)

   have ownership or possession of

   "He owns three houses in Florida"; "How many cars does she have?"

3. possess(verb)

   enter into and control, as of emotions or ideas

   "What possessed you to buy this house?"; "A terrible rage possessed her"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. possess(Verb)

   To have; to have ownership of.

   He does not even possess a working telephone.

   Etymology: * From possessus, past participle of possīdeō.

2. possess(Verb)

   To take control of someone's body or mind, especially in a supernatural manner.

   They thought he was possessed by evil spirits.

   Etymology: * From possessus, past participle of possīdeō.

3. possess(Verb)

   To occupy.

   Etymology: * From possessus, past participle of possīdeō.

4. possess(Verb)

   To vest ownership in (someone) with ownership.

   Etymology: * From possessus, past participle of possīdeō.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Possess(verb)

   to occupy in person; to hold or actually have in one's own keeping; to have and to hold

2. Possess(verb)

   to have the legal title to; to have a just right to; to be master of; to own; to have; as, to possess property, an estate, a book

3. Possess(verb)

   to obtain occupation or possession of; to accomplish; to gain; to seize

4. Possess(verb)

   to enter into and influence; to control the will of; to fill; to affect; -- said especially of evil spirits, passions, etc

5. Possess(verb)

   to put in possession; to make the owner or holder of property, power, knowledge, etc.; to acquaint; to inform; -- followed by of or with before the thing possessed, and now commonly used reflexively

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Possess

   poz-zes′, v.t. to have or hold as an owner: to have the control of: to inform: to seize: to enter into and influence: to put (one's self) in possession (of): (Spens.) to achieve: (Shak.) put in possession of information, convince.—adj. Possessed′, influenced by some evil spirit, demented.—n. Posses′sion, act of possessing: the thing possessed: a country taken by conquest: property: state of being possessed, as by an evil spirit: madness.—adjs. Posses′sionary, Posses′sive, pertaining to or denoting possession.—n. Posses′sive (gram.), a pronoun denoting possession: the possessive case.—adv. Posses′sively.—n. Posses′sor, one who possesses: owner: proprietor: occupant.—adj. Posses′sory, relating to a possessor or possession: having possession.—Give possession, to put in another's power or occupancy; Take possession, to assume ownership; Writ of possession, a process directing a sheriff to put a person in possession of property recovered in ejectment. [Fr.,—L. possidēre, possessum.]

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'possess' in Verbs Frequency: #463

How to pronounce possess?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say possess in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of possess in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of possess in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of possess in a Sentence

1. RJ Intindola – (Gandolfo):

   The pursuit of success is marked by numerous characteristics; including, perseverance, commitment, education, and wisdom, to name a few. The road to failure can also be described with countless personality traits, including, unreliable, indolence, ignorance, and ineptitude. However, during my thirty years as an administrator I have witnessed the most significant rationale for failure that cannot be described in a single word. It is a characteristic some people possess, often referred to by psychologists as the, need-to-be-liked-syndrome. Unfortunately, for some, their existence is predicated upon pleasing others, and seeking approval and recognition. They have become an inmate or prisoner to the thoughts and opinions of others. In other words, they lack self-value, and therefore must receive it from others. When you do not value yourself, then it will be difficult to obtain joy and contentment in one’s life. Remember; you have worth and value.

2. Ralph Waldo Emerson:

   We know better than we do. We do not yet possess ourselves.

3. President Pierre Nkurunziza:

   The government gives one month to those who illegally possess arms to hand them over, beyond this period, whoever is caught with arms will be punished.

4. Yuri Trutnev:

   There is no other place on the planet with such a huge and sparsely populated territory ... China has significant water supply problems while we possess 37 percent of water resources of the Asia-Pacific region.

5. Young:

   If we did but know how little some enjoy of the great things that they possess, there would not be much envy in the world.

Images & Illustrations of possess

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