possess

Pronunciation: /pəˈzɛs/

The English word “possess” has 16 meanings listed here.

verb

To have (something) as, or as if as, an owner; to have, to own.
Of an idea, thought, etc.: to dominate (someone's mind); to strongly influence.
Of a supernatural entity, especially one regarded as evil: to take control of (an animal or person's body or mind).
Of a person: to control or dominate (oneself or someone, or one's own or someone's heart, mind, etc.).
To dominate (a person) sexually; to have sexual intercourse with (a person).
To cause an idea, thought, etc., to strongly affect or influence (someone); to inspire, to preoccupy.
To occupy the attention or time of (someone).
To obtain or seize (something); to gain, to win.
Chiefly followed by of or with: to vest ownership of something in (oneself or someone); to bestow upon, to endow.
To have control or possession of, but not to own (a chattel or an interest in land).
To give (someone) information or knowledge; to acquaint, to inform.
To have the ability to use, or knowledge of (a language, a skill, etc.)
To inhabit or occupy (a place).
Chiefly followed by that: to convince or persuade (someone).
To dominate sexually; to have sexual intercourse with.
To inhabit or occupy a place.

Etymology

PIE word *pótis From Middle English possessen (“to have, own; to obtain possession of; to inhabit, occupy”) [and other forms], from Middle French possesser, possessier, Old French possesser, possessier (“to have, own, possess; to dominate”), from Latin possessus (“possessed; seized”), the perfect passive participle of possideō (“to have, hold, own, possess; to have possessions; to take control or…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.