v.
Pronunciation: p ə - ' zes also - ' ses
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French possesser to have possession of, take possession of, from Latin possessus, past participle of possid ē re, from potis able, having the power + sed ē re to sit ― more at POTENT , SIT
Date: 14th century
1 a : to have and hold as property : OWN b : to have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
2 a : to take into one's possession b : to enter into and control firmly : DOMINATE <was possess ed by demons> c : to bring or cause to fall under the influence, possession, or control of some emotional or intellectual response or reaction <melancholy possess es her>
3 a obsolete : to instate as owner b : to make the owner or holder ― used in passive construction to indicate simple possession < possess ed of riches> < possess ed of knowledge and experience>
– pos · ses · sor noun