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possess |
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]: possess v 1: have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill; "he possesses great knowledge about the Middle East" 2: have ownership or possession of "He owns three houses in Florida"; "How many cars does she have?" [syn: {own}, {have}] 3: enter into and control, as of emotions or ideas; "What possessed you to buy this house?" "A terrible rage possessed her"
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