释义
[ puh -zes ] SHOW IPA
/ pəˈzɛs / PHONETIC RESPELLING
SEE SYNONYMS FOR possess ON THESAURUS.COM
verb (used with object) to have as belonging to one; have as property; own: to possess a house and a car.
to have as a faculty, quality, or the like: to possess courage.
(of a spirit, especially an evil one) to occupy, dominate, or control (a person) from within: He thought he was possessed by devils.
(of a feeling, idea, etc.) to dominate or actuate in the manner of such a spirit: He was possessed by envy.
(of a man) to succeed in having sexual intercourse with.
to have knowledge of: to possess a language.
to keep or maintain (oneself, one's mind, etc.) in a certain state, as of peace, patience, etc.
to maintain control over (oneself, one's mind, etc.).
to impart to; inform; familiarize (often followed by of or with ): to possess someone of the facts of the case.
to cause to be dominated or influenced, as by an idea, feeling, etc.
to make (someone) owner, holder, or master, as of property, information, etc.: He possessed them of the facts.
to seize or take.
to gain or win.
to occupy or hold.
SEE MORE SEE LESS Origin of possess 1425–75; late Middle English possesen <Middle French possess (i )er, noun derivative of possession possession
synonym study for possess 1 . See have.
OTHER WORDS FROM possess pos·ses·sor, noun pos·ses·sor·ship, noun un·der·pos·ses·sor, noun un·pos·sess·ing, adjective Words nearby possess posology, poss., posse, posse comitatus, posser, possess , possessed, possessed by, possession, possession is nine points of the law, possession order
Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for possess That thing we seemed to possess was not the other, but an image of them we formed—they themselves are still free.
Owning Up to Possession’s Downside | Samantha Harvey| December 14, 2014| DAILY BEAST
I know that many people do not feel they possess their partners and lovers.
Owning Up to Possession’s Downside | Samantha Harvey| December 14, 2014| DAILY BEAST
The Fish and Wildlife officer told him that it was illegal to possess a protected species or a raptor.
He Faces Jail for Rescuing Baby Eagles | Michael Daly| November 2, 2014| DAILY BEAST
We attribute his successes or failures to the presence or lack of some special sauce that he does or does not possess .
The Dems’ Midterm Performance Anxiety | Michael Tomasky| October 31, 2014| DAILY BEAST
And it is conjecture, based on the sketchy bits of evidence we possess .
Is Brooklyn Becoming Unsafe for Gays? It Depends On Which Ones | Jay Michaelson| October 18, 2014| DAILY BEAST
All the honours which a physician can possess I either enjoy, or have refused when they were offered to me.
Jerome Cardan | William George Waters
No one of the members of these four classes is known to possess vibratile cilia.
Marvels of Pond-life | Henry J. Slack
No man should allow himself to recommend another for qualities which he knows he does not possess .
The Book of Business Etiquette | Nella Henney
The senses are the only channels to the external world which we possess , and love must come through these channels or not at all.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 6 (of 6) | Havelock Ellis
So often I borrow trouble and cannot use it, when the peace that I possess is all that I need.
Leaves of Life | Margaret Bird Steinmetz
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British Dictionary definitions for possess verb (tr) to have as one's property; own
to have as a quality, faculty, characteristic, etc to possess good eyesight
to have knowledge or mastery of to possess a little French
to gain control over or dominate whatever possessed you to act so foolishly?
(foll by of) to cause to be the owner or possessor I am possessed of the necessary information
(often foll by with) to cause to be influenced or dominated (by) the news possessed him with anger
to have sexual intercourse with
rare to keep control over or maintain (oneself or one's feelings) in a certain state or condition possess yourself in patience until I tell you the news
archaic to gain or seize
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Derived forms of possess possessor , noun Word Origin for possess C15: from Old French possesser, from Latin possidēre to own, occupy; related to Latin sedēre to sit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Words related to possess enjoy, own, seize, acquire, occupy, maintain, carry, retain, control, hog, dominate, bear, corner, grab, hold, corner the market, get hold of, lock up, sit on, take over