POSSESS


Meaning of POSSESS in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ pə-ˈzes also ]

-ˈses transitive verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French possesser to have possession of, take possession of, from Latin possessus, past participle of possidēre, from potis able, having the power + sedēre 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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.