possess

Everyday

1. (formal) To own or have something. tree →
2. (formal) To have a quality or skill. tree →
3. (of a feeling or spirit) To take control of someone's mind, as in stories about ghosts. tree →
4. (informal, in questions) "What possessed you?" = why on earth did you do that? tree →

In the lessons

A formal word for "have" in exam problems: "Tom possesses 12 marbles". In stories, people can be "possessed" by spirits. Phrases: in possession of, what possessed you, possessed by.

Examples

• Tom possesses 12 marbles and gives away 5. tree →
• She possesses great courage. tree →
• The museum possesses a famous painting. tree →
• In the story, the doll was possessed by a ghost. tree →
• What possessed you to climb on the roof? tree →
• Do you possess a library card? tree →
• He possesses a talent for drawing. tree →
• "We'll give you half of all we possess." tree →

Note

Spelling: double s twice: possess. Noun: possession. In a maths problem "possesses" simply means "has": the number is how many the person has at the start.

In Jewish tradition

To take over and own, especially the land God promised. It is used again and again of Israel taking the Land of Israel, and also of a swarm of locusts taking over trees.

Interpretation. The land was a gift from God to be possessed, and the rabbis said that this brought duties. The conquest and settlement of the land is a key promise of the Torah.

Examples

• All thy trees and the fruit of thy land shall the locust possess. (Torah DEU.28.42, JPS 1917) tree →
• thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy GOD giveth thee to possess it. (Torah DEU.19.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• And ye shall drive out the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein; for unto you have I given the land to possess it. (Torah NUM.33.53, JPS 1917) tree →
• Arise, O God, judge the earth; for Thou shalt possess all nations. (Writings PSA.82.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? (Prophets JDG.11.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• So whomsoever the LORD our God hath dispossessed from before us, them will we possess. (Prophets JDG.11.24, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Spelling: double s twice: possess. Noun: possession. In a maths problem "possesses" simply means "has": the number is how many the person has at the start.