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   possess

   /pəˈzɛs/

   verb

   • 1. have as belonging to one; own: "I do not possess a television set" Similar ownhavebe the owner ofhave in one's possessionbe in possession ofbe the possessor ofhave to one's namehold
   • ▪ have possession of as distinct from ownership: "a two-year suspended sentence for possessing cocaine"
   • ▪ have as an ability, quality, or characteristic: "he did not possess a sense of humour" Similar havebe blessed withbe endowed withbe gifted withbe possessed ofbe born withenjoyboastbenefit fromarchaic:participate of
   • ▪ take for one's own: archaic "all that the plaintiffs did was to possess themselves of the securities"
   • 2. (of a demon or spirit, especially an evil one) have complete power over (someone) and be manifested through their speech or actions: "she was possessed by the Devil" Similar take control ofhave power overtake overhave mastery overcast a spell overbewitchenchantenthralcontroldominateinfluencemaddendrive madrare:bedevil
   • ▪ (of an emotion, idea, etc.) dominate the mind of: "I was possessed by a desire to tell her everything" Similar obsessdominatehauntpreoccupyconsumeeat someone upprey on someone's mindbecome an obsession withbe uppermost in someone's mindtake control of
   • 3. (of a man) have sexual intercourse with: literary "he just wanted her, to possess her"
   • 4. maintain (oneself or one's mind or soul) in a state of patience or quiet: archaic "I tried to possess my soul in patience"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French possesser, from Latin possess- ‘occupied, held’, from the verb possidere, from potis ‘able, capable’ + sedere ‘sit’.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • S

     1

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

   • S

     1

   • S

     1

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