possess

Meanings

• verb

  having or holding (something) as one's property; owning

  - "He possesses a valuable collection of antiques."
  - "The thief was caught red-handed trying to possess stolen goods."

• verb

  have or hold in one's power or control

  - "The strong man possessed the power to bend iron bars."
  - "The queen possessed the power to grant pardons."

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Pronunciation

1. /pəˈzɛs/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=330401"

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Synonyms

seise , inhold

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with possess
depossession , composition , position

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Variants

List of all variants of possess that leads to same result
possess , possessed , possesses , possessing , possessor , possessors

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Forms

Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

possesses, possessed, possessing

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old French possesser from Latin possidere, past participle of tenere 'to hold, to keep'

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'possess' comes from the Latin word 'possidere', which means 'to hold' or 'to occupy'.

2. In some cultures, it is believed that certain objects or talismans can bring good luck or protection, and people may feel a strong sense of possession towards these items.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. ownership: The legal right to possess and use something.

2. possession psychology: A theory in psychology that suggests people develop a strong emotional attachment to objects, which can lead to a sense of possession and ownership.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. What does matter is that we come to recognize that playfulness, as a philosophical stance, can be very serious, indeed; and, moreover, that it "possesses" an unfailing capacity to arouse ridicule and hostility in those among us who crave certainty, reverence, and restraint.

   - Tom Robbins,{it}Harper's{/it},September 2004

2. What would "possess" seemingly sane people to treat concrete walls like trampolines?

   - Alice Park,{it}Time{/it},16 Apr. 2007

3. People who experience specific colors when looking at particular letters, such as seeing sky blue when shown an R, "possess" an unusual abundance of connections in brain areas involved in word and color perception, a new brain-imaging investigation finds.

   - Bruce Bower,{it}Science News{/it},26 May 2007

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, the concept of possession is often used to explore themes of power, control, and jealousy. For example, in Shakespeare's 'Othello', the title character becomes consumed with jealousy and possessiveness, leading to tragic consequences.

How to Memorize "possess"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize a hand holding an object tightly to remember the meaning of 'possess'.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'possess' with the idea of having control or ownership.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Use the mnemonic 'Possess means to have control and to keep' to remember the meaning of 'possess'.

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Memorize "possess" using Dictozo

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