Pronunciation
- IPA: /pəˈzɛs/
possess (possesses, present participle possessing; past and past participle possessed)
- (transitive) To have; to have ownership of.
- He does not even possess a working telephone.
- 1818, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Volume 3, Chapter 7:
- [...], the companions of our childhood always possess a certain power over our minds, which hardly any later friend can obtain.
- (transitive) To take control of someone's body or mind, especially in a supernatural manner.
- They thought he was possessed by evil spirits.
- What on earth possessed you to go walking by the quarry at midnight?
- (transitive, dated, chiefly, with of) To vest ownership in (someone, or oneself); to give someone power or knowledge; to acquaint; to inform.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 5 Scene 1
- LEONATO. I cannot bid you bid my daughter live;
- That were impossible; but, I pray you both,
- Possess the people in Messina here
- How innocent she died;
- cite
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 5 Scene 1
- French: posséder
- German: besitzen
- Italian: possedere, avere
- Portuguese: possuir, ter
- Russian: облада́ть
- Spanish: poseer
- French: posséder, s'emparer de: to get a hold of
- German: besitzen
- Italian: possedere
- Portuguese: possuir
- Spanish: poseer
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