POSSESSION Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

possession

[ puh-zesh-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the act or fact of possessing.
Synonyms: ,
the state of being possessed.
ownership.
Law. actual holding or occupancy, either with or without rights of ownership.
a thing possessed:
He packed all his possessions into one trunk.
possessions, property or wealth.
a territorial dominion of a state.
Sports.
1. physical control of the ball or puck by a player or team:
  He didn't have full possession when he was tackled.
2. the right of a team to put the ball into play:
  They had possession after the other team sank a free throw.
control over oneself, one's mind, etc.
domination, actuation, or obsession by a feeling, idea, etc.
the feeling or idea itself.

possession

/ ��əˈ��ɛʃə�� /

noun

the act of possessing or state of being possessed
in possession of the crown
anything that is owned or possessed
plural wealth or property
the state of being controlled or dominated by or as if by evil spirits
the physical control or occupancy of land, property, etc, whether or not accompanied by ownership
to take possession of a house
a territory subject to a foreign state or to a sovereign prince
colonial possessions
sport control of the ball, puck, etc, as exercised by a player or team
he lost possession in his own half

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

�Դǲ�p�ǲ�·��s��ǲ� noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of possession¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin ��ǲ��ō��-, stem of ��ǲ��ō “occupancy, act of occupying,” from possess(us) “occupied” (past participle of ��ǲ��ŧ�� “to have in one's control, occupy,” from pos-, combining form of pot(is) “able” + -��ŧ��, combining form of ��ŧ�� “to sit”) + -��ō -ion; host ¹, sit ¹

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Synonym Study

See custody.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Abdullah Sabah Albadri, 33, of no fixed address, was charged on Wednesday with preparation of terrorist acts and two counts of possession of a bladed article, the Metropolitan Police has said.

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Arsenal pulled it around, having 55.4% possession for the rest of the game, but Rice knew what was coming and PSG were simply too good to stop early on.

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He has also been convicted for corporal injury on a spouse, battery on a non-prisoner while in prison and possession of a deadly weapon while in prison, state prison officials said.

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However, by the time officers arrived, he was no longer in possession of the weapon.

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She would also like to see a service that brings people's belongings to their new home, or storage facilities so they can safely keep their possessions.

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Related 51�Թ�s

custody

possessed by possession is nine points of the law

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