2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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  actually  have  in  one's  own 
  keeping;  to  have  and  to  hold 
 
  Houses  and  fields  and  vineyards  shall  be  possessed 
  again  in  this  land.  --Jer.  xxxii 
  15. 
 
  Yet  beauty,  though  injurious,  hath  strange  power, 
  After  offense  returning,  to  regain  Love  once 
  possessed.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  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. 
 
  I  am  yours  and  all  that  I  possess.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  To  obtain  occupation  or  possession  of  to  accomplish;  to 
  gain;  to  seize. 
 
  How  .  .  .  to  possess  the  purpose  they  desired. 
  --Spenser. 
 
  4.  To  enter  into  and  influence;  to  control  the  will  of  to 
  fill;  to  affect;  --  said  especially  of  evil  spirits, 
  passions,  etc  ``Weakness  possesseth  me.''  --Shak. 
 
  Those  which  were  possessed  with  devils.  --Matt.  iv 
  24. 
 
  For  ten  inspired,  ten  thousand  are  possessed. 
  --Roscommon. 
 
  5.  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. 
 
  I  have  possessed  your  grace  of  what  I  purpose. 
  --Shak. 
 
  Record  a  gift  .  .  .  of  all  he  dies  possessed  Unto 
  his  son.  --Shak. 
 
  We  possessed  our  selves  of  the  kingdom  of  Naples. 
  --Addison. 
 
  To  possess  our  minds  with  an  habitual  good 
  intention.  --Addison. 
 
  Syn:  To  have  hold  occupy;  control;  own 
 
  Usage:  {Possess},  {Have}.  Have  is  the  more  general  word  To 
  possess  denotes  to  have  as  a  property.  It  usually 
  implies  more  permanence  or  definiteness  of  control  or 
  ownership  than  is  involved  in  having  A  man  does  not 
  possess  his  wife  and  children:  they  are  (so  to  speak) 
  part  of  himself.  For  the  same  reason,  we  have  the 
  faculties  of  reason,  understanding,  will  sound 
  judgment,  etc.:  they  are  exercises  of  the  mind,  not 
  possessions. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  possessed 
  adj  1:  influenced  or  controlled  by  a  powerful  force  such  as  a 
  strong  emotion;  "by  love  possessed"  [syn:  {obsessed}, 
  {possessed(p)}] 
  2:  in  a  murderous  frenzy  as  if  possessed  by  a  demon;  "the 
  soldier  was  completely  amuck";  "berserk  with  grief";  "a 
  berserk  worker  smashing  windows"  [syn:  {amuck},  {amok},  {berserk}, 
  {demoniac},  {demoniacal},  {possessed(p)}] 

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