Antonyms for possess
| Grammar : Verb |
| Spell : puh-zes |
| Phonetic Transcription : pəˈzɛs |
Definition of possess
Origin :- late 14c., "to hold, occupy, reside in" (without regard to ownership), a back formation from possession and in part from Old French possesser "to have and hold, take, be in possession of" (mid-13c.), from Latin possess-, past participle stem of possidere "to have and hold, possess, be master of, own," from posse "to be able," from potis "able, powerful" (see potent) + esse "to be" (see be). Meaning "to hold as property" is recorded from c.1500. Demonic sense is recorded from 1530s (implied in possessed). Related: Possessed; possessing.
- verb have or obtain
- The misfortune was that this was the only thing they cared to possess.
- Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
- In painting, we believe we possess a school second to none of modern art.
- Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
- If our whole horizon of truth were not broadened, we could not possess this command.
- Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
- There are some papers and some money I must possess myself of.
- Extract from : « The Imaginary Invalid » by Molire
- It is tragic how few people ever ‘possess their souls’ before they die.
- Extract from : « De Profundis » by Oscar Wilde
- For all that, I know very well what a treasure I possess in Andrew the carpenter.
- Extract from : « Rico and Wiseli » by Johanna Spyri
- Faith is the soul's eyesight; and when we possess it the world is never dark nor lonely.
- Extract from : « Biographical Stories » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- I daresay your wife'll have a child just about the time you've spent every ha'penny you possess.
- Extract from : « The Foolish Lovers » by St. John G. Ervine
- I possess his secret; I could give him up to the king's wrath; I could bring him to the death.
- Extract from : « Leila, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
- Love wants to possess the beloved object—and to make her happy.
- Extract from : « The Incomplete Amorist » by E. Nesbit
Synonyms for possess
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019