To Possess Is to Sit as Master of Something
To possess is to own or to control. The Latin combines the words for able and sit, which is a vivid picture of ownership.
To possess something is to have it, own it or control it. The Latin *possidere* is built from *potis*, able or powerful, and *sedere*, to sit — to possess is to sit as master of something. The law keeps the distinction: possession is physical control, ownership is legal title, and they are not always in the same hands.
- To own or have. *He possesses two properties.*
- To have a quality. *She possesses great patience.*
- To control someone's mind. *What possessed you to say that?*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | possess | Possess the deeds. |
| Past | possessed | Possessed of great skill. |
| Noun | possession | Personal possessions. |
| Adjective | possessive | A possessive attitude. |
| Grammar | possessive | The possessive form. |
How it is used in a sentence
- He was found in possession of stolen goods.A legal formula.
- Possession is nine-tenths of the law.A saying, not a legal rule.
- What possessed him to resign?Meaning what came over him.
Possession in law and grammar
- Possession — physical control of a thing
- Ownership — the legal right to it
- Title — the evidence of ownership
- Bailment — lawful possession by someone who is not the owner
- Possessive — the grammatical form showing belonging, usually with an apostrophe
From Latin *possidere*, to hold or occupy, from *potis*, able, and *sedere*, to sit. The same *sedere* gives *sedentary*, *reside* and *session*.
Is possession really nine-tenths of the law?
No. It is a saying reflecting that a possessor has a practical advantage in a dispute, not a rule any court applies.
Possession or ownership?
Possession is having control of something. Ownership is the legal right to it. A borrower possesses a book the library owns.