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If you possess something, you have it or own it.

pos·sess| pəˈzes | verb [with object] 

1 have as belonging to one; own: I do not possess a television set. 

• Law 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 humor | (be


possessed of) :  a fading blonde possessed of a powerful soprano voice. 

• (possess oneself of) archaic take for one's own: all that the plaintiffs did was to possess
themselves of the securities. 

2 (usually be possessed) (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. 

• (of an emotion, idea, etc.) dominate the mind of; have an overpowering influence on: I was
possessed by a desire to tell her everything. 

3 literary have sexual intercourse with (a woman): he just wanted her, to possess her. 

4 archaic maintain (oneself or one's mind or soul) in a state or condition of patience or quiet: I


tried to possess my soul in patience and to forget how hungry I was. [often with biblical allusion
to Luke 21:19, the proper sense (‘gain your souls’) being misunderstood.]

PHRASES what possessed you? used to express surprise at an action regarded as extremely


unwise: what possessed you to come here? 

ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French possesser, from Latin possess- ‘occupied, held’,


from the verb possidere, from potis ‘able, capable’ + sedere ‘sit’.

Members of the Davidson family possess many things. In fact, they possess so many things that
they have decided to have a yard sale. Mrs. Davidson says, “If we’re not using it, let someone
else have it.”

This is a picture of Rachel’s backpack. What does Rachel possess?

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