possess
To have (something) as, or as if as, an owner; to have, to own.
Verb 4 meanings
To have (something) as, or as if as, an owner; to have, to own.
“He does not even possess a working telephone.”
Of an idea, thought, etc.: to dominate (someone's mind); to strongly influence.
Of a supernatural entity, especially one regarded as evil: to take control of (an animal or person's body or mind).
“They thought he was possessed by evil spirits.”
Of a person: to control or dominate (oneself or someone, or one's own or someone's heart, mind, etc.).
Etymology
PIE word *pótis From Middle English possessen (“to have, own; to obtain possession of; to inhabit, occupy”) [and other forms], from Middle French possesser, possessier, Old French possesser, possessier (“to have, own, possess; to dominate”), from Latin possessus (“possessed; seized”), the perfect passive participle of possideō (“to have, hold, own, possess; to have possessions; to take control or possession of, occupy, seize; to abide, inhabit, occupy; to dominate”), from potis (“able, capable, possible”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pótis (“master; ruler; husband”)) + sedeō (“to sit; to be seated; to be established, hold firm”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sed- (“to sit”)).
Similar and opposite words
POSSESS at a glance
POSSESS has 7 letters and scores 9 points in Scrabble (P 3 + O 1 + S 1 + S 1 + E 1 + S 1 + S 1) and 10 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #6,840 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with possess
All rhymesOne letter away
- POSSETS9
- POSSERS9
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