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Added 9 October 2026

possess

/pəˈzɛs/ verb

In Latin: possideō, habeō, teneō Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about possess at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill.
he possesses great knowledge about the Middle East
Have ownership or possession of.
He owns three houses in Florida
Enter into and control, as of emotions or ideas.
What possessed you to buy this house?

Origin

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”)).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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