possess
Keep as yours
To possess something is to have it or own it: She possesses considerable talent, He was arrested for possessing a firearm.
Possess often sounds more formal than have or own, appearing in legal contexts (possessing stolen property) and descriptions of qualities (She possesses an unusual grace).
To be possessed is to be controlled by a spirit or demon, or figuratively by an intense emotion: What possessed you to do that?
Legal right of possession
- belongingsThings you possess
- propertySomething owned or inherent
- assetsOwned items of value
- holdingsProperty one owns
title · deed · proprietorship · estate · inheritance · acquire · purchase · retain
Authoritative instruction given
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- governExercise political control
- regulateControl by rules
- manageDirect or handle successfully
direct · supervise · administer · oversee · steer · guide · handle · operate
Apparition of the dead
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
spook · exorcism · paranormal · supernatural · seance · spiritualism · demonic · spirit
Defeat by superior force
- subjugateBring under dominion
- commandeerSeize for official purposes
- monopolizeClaim exclusive control
- coerceObtain by intimidation
dominion · hegemony · ascendancy · master · subdue · enslave · tyrannize · conquer
Persistent mental attachment
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- infatuationShort-lived intense attraction
- addictionCompulsive substance reliance
craving · preoccupation · fascination · monomania · fanaticism · consuming · captivation · frenzy
ownership
Legal right of possession
- belongingsThings you possess
- propertySomething owned or inherent
- assetsOwned items of value
holdings · title · deed · proprietorship · estate · inheritance · acquire · purchase · retain · keep
command
Authoritative instruction given
manage · direct · supervise · administer · oversee · steer · guide · handle · operate · conduct
ghost
Apparition of the dead
- poltergeistDisruptive supernatural entity
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- apparitionVisible supernatural manifestation
phantom · spook · exorcism · paranormal · supernatural · seance · spiritualism · demonic · spirit · entity
overpower
Defeat by superior force
- subjugateBring under dominion
- commandeerSeize for official purposes
- monopolizeClaim exclusive control
coerce · dominion · hegemony · ascendancy · master · subdue · enslave · tyrannize · conquer · seize
fixation
Persistent mental attachment
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- maniaIntense, consuming obsession
- infatuationShort-lived intense attraction
addiction · craving · preoccupation · fascination · monomania · fanaticism · consuming · captivation · frenzy · intensity
affluence
Abundance of money
- prosperityGood fortune, success
- richesAbundant valuable possessions
- fortuneWealth or destiny
capital · resources · treasure · money · savings · investments · funds · endowment · opulence · luxury
- Double Lettersbookkeeper, Mississippi, Tennessee, Massachusetts, balloon
- ownershipowner, own, ownership, proprietorship, sole owner
- spellsspell, cast, conjure, curse, enchantment
- stative verbsbe, am, is, are, was
- wantingwant, desire, crave, yearn, long
- holding firmhold, hold fast, hold firm, hold on, hold onto
possesslose
Fail to keep
relinquish · surrender · give up · forfeit · dispossess
- prized possessionHighly valued personal item
- take possessionGain ownership or control
- illegal possessionCrime of holding prohibited items
- drug possessionUnlawful custody of narcotics
- demonic possessionEvil spirit inhabits someone
- earthly possessionsMaterial things one owns
possession, possessions, possessive, possessed, possessing, possessor, possesses, repossess, dispossess