possess

CEFRB2

/pəˈzɛs/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To own or have something.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    Of a supernatural entity, especially one regarded as evil: to take control of (an animal or person's body or mind).

Examples

  • Do you think that those superheroes are endowed with talents we don't possess?

  • These hot springs possess properties for healing wounds.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. Of an idea, thought, etc.: to dominate (someone's mind); to strongly influence.

  2. To have (something) as, or as if as, an owner; to have, to own.

  3. To cause an idea, thought, etc., to strongly affect or influence (someone); to inspire, to preoccupy.

More examples

In context

  • Those who possess nothing lose nothing.

  • He does not even possess a working telephone.

  • They thought he was possessed by evil spirits.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The old woman can blank a valuable diamond ring from her grandmother.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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”)).