POSSESSION • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Possession

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/pəzˈɛʃən/ Listen

noun

Possession n.

1.

The act or state of possessing, or holding as one's own.

2.

(Law) The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command; actual seizin or occupancy; ownership, whether rightful or wrongful. Note: Possession may be either actual or constructive; actual, when a party has the immediate occupancy; constructive, when he has only the right to such occupancy.

3.

The thing possessed; that which any one occupies, owns, or controls; in the plural, property in the aggregate; wealth; dominion; as, foreign possessions. "When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." "Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession." "The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions."

4.

The state of being possessed or controlled, as by an evil spirit, or violent passions; madness; frenzy; as, demoniacal possession. "How long hath this possession held the man?"

To give possession, to put in another's power or occupancy.

To put in possession.

(a)

To invest with ownership or occupancy; to provide or furnish with; as, to put one in possession of facts or information.

(b)

(Law) To place one in charge of property recovered in ejectment or writ of entry.

To take possession, to enter upon, or to bring within one's power or occupancy.

Writ of possession (Law), a precept directing a sheriff to put a person in peaceable possession of property recovered in ejectment or writ of entry.

verb

Possession v. t. To invest with property. (Obs.)

See images of 'Possession'

Etymology of 'Possession'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Possession" Quotes from Famous Books

... A mere accident put me in possession of the facts, and, thank Heaven, I am able to build two and two together. You were frank enough, Doctor Craig, to give me certain particulars concerning that creature's plotting, and that confidence has ...

— Miss Caprice • St. George Rathborne

... often see among savages and among birds the favors of the female obtained by assiduous courtship rather than by combat. In some savage tribes struggles take place between the females for possession of the male. However, it is usually coquetry in all its degrees which furnishes woman with the basis for her advances. In many nations, if not in most, women have the right to refuse a demand ...

— The Sexual Question - A Scientific, psychological, hygienic and sociological study • August Forel

... considerable part of his property. At any rate, it so chanced, that, instead of commanding me to the desk, as I fully expected, having intimated my willingness to comply with his wishes, however they might destine me, I received his directions to go down to Osbaldistone Hall, and take possession of it as the heir and representative of the family. I was directed to apply to Squire Inglewood for the copy of my uncle's will deposited with him, and take all necessary measures to secure that possession which sages say makes nine points ...

— Rob Roy, Complete, Illustrated • Sir Walter Scott

... other hand, the remainder-man would have no right to meddle with the property while the tenant-for-life was in possession; and it would be rare, that all those interested could agree to unite in efforts to increase the general value of the ...

— Farm drainage • Henry Flagg French

... ever held her ears so wide open. But I could hear nothing but a murmur of angry argument from the Countess and a murmur of gentle objection from Lady Mary. I was in possession of an ideal place from which to overhear conversation. Almost every important conversation ever held had been overheard from a position of this kind. It seemed unfair that I, of all men in literature, should be denied this casual ...

— The O'Ruddy - A Romance • Stephen Crane

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