— possessively , adv. — possessiveness , n.
/peuh zes"iv/ , adj.
1. jealously opposed to the personal independence of, or to any influence other than one's own upon, a child, spouse, etc.
2. desirous of possessing, esp. excessively so: Young children are so possessive they will not allow others to play with their toys; a possessive lover.
3. of or pertaining to possession or ownership.
4. Gram.
a. indicating possession, ownership, origin, etc. His in his book is a possessive adjective. His in The book is his is a possessive pronoun.
b. noting or pertaining to a case that indicates possession, ownership, origin, etc., as, in English, John's in John's hat.
n. Gram.
5. the possessive case.
6. a form in the possessive.
[ 1520-30; possessivus. See POSSESS, -IVE ]