Possess1. (v. t.) To own; to have in one's own keeping; to have and to hold.
2. (v. t.) To have the legal title to; to have a just right to; to be master of; to own; to have; as, to possess property, an estate, a book.
3. (v. t.) To obtain occupation or possession of; to accomplish; to gain; to seize.
4. (v. t.) To enter into and influence; to control the will of; to fill; to affect; -- said especially of evil spirits, passions, etc.
5. (v. t.) To put in possession; to make the owner or holder of property, power, knowledge, etc.; to acquaint; to inform; -- followed by of or with before the thing possessed, and now commonly used reflexively.
Thesaurus Entries
achieve, acquire, appreciate, apprehend, be acquainted with, be apprised of, be aware of, be cognizant of, be conscious of, be conversant with, be enfeoffed of, be informed, be possessed of, be seized of, bear, bedevil, beset, bewitch, boast, captivate, carry, catch up, charm, claim, clap hands on, clasp, claw, clench, clinch, clutch, cognize, come by, come into, command, compel, comprehend, conceive, conceptualize, consume, contain, control, demonize, devilize, diabolize, discern, dominate, drain off, draw off, drive, embody, embrace, enchant, enjoy, fathom, fill, gain, get, get hold of, glom on to, govern, grab, grab hold of, grapple, grasp, grip, gripe, hant, haunt, have, have and hold, have in hand, have information about, have knowledge of, have tenure of, hex, hold, hoodoo, hug, impel, include, infatuate, jinx, ken, know, lay hands on, lay hold of, loot, make out, nail, nip, nip up, not let go, obsess, obtain, occupy, overlook, own, palm, partake, perceive, pillage, pocket, prehend, preoccupy, procure, realize, receive, recognize, retain, savvy, secure, see, seize, snap up, snatch, spook, squat, squat on, steal, take, take by assault, take by storm, take hold of, take possession, take possession of, understand, usucapt, voodoo, whip up, win, witch, wot, wot of