See Also: possession(dictionary)
possession(dictionary)
Possession(money)
vacant possession(dictionary)
Adverse Possession(law)
Constructive Possession(law)
IMMEMORIAL POSSESSION(law)
Mere Possession(law)
POSSESSION, intern(law)
Possession Proceedings(law)

possession (iou)



possession noun. ME.
[Old & mod. French, or Latin possessio(n-), from possess-: see POSSESS, -ION.]
The action or fact of possessing something; the holding or having something as one's own or in one's control; actual holding or occupancy as distinct from ownership; Law visible power or control over a thing, esp. land, which is similar to but may exist apart from lawful ownership. ME.
M. Edgeworth Not one of those..mothers who expect always to have possession of a son's arm. B. Jowett Philosophy is the possession of knowledge. V. Cronin Catherine as Empress came into possession of three country palaces. Proverb: Possession is nine points (also parts, tenths) of the law.
b. Football etc. Control of the ball, puck, etc., by a particular player or team; a period of such control. Also, the extent of a team's control of the ball etc. or dominance in a match. Orig. US. L19.
Guardian Oldham..lost and then..regained possession a yard from the Warrington line.
c. ellipt. Possession of illegal drugs. colloq. L20.
L. Cody No one had gone so far as to be arrested for possession.
A thing possessed, a piece of property, something that belongs to one. Now usu. in pl., belongings, property, wealth. ME.
G. P. R. James Beauty is a woman's best possession till she be old. M. Muggeridge We had..no furniture or possessions apart from clothes and a few books.
b. A small farm held under lease. Scot. L18.
c. A territory subject to a sovereign ruler or State. Now esp. any of a country's foreign dominions. E19.
The action of a spirit or demon possessing a person etc.; the fact or state of being so possessed. L16.
M. Tippett There is a third form of possession or madness, of which the Muses are the source. E. Johnson But the demoniac possession that drove him would not let him rest.
The state, process, or fact of being possessed by an idea, feeling, etc. Also, a dominating idea or impulse. E17.
Longfellow I have worked steadily on it, for it took hold of mea kind of possession.
The action or condition of keeping oneself, one's mind, etc., under control. More commonly SELF-POSSESSION. E18.
Phrases: chose in possession: see CHOSE noun. in possession (a) actually possessing the thing in question; (b) possessed by the person etc. in question. in possession of actually possessing, holding, or occupying (something); maintaining control over (one's faculties etc.). in the possession of owned or possessed by. symbolical possession: see SYMBOLICAL 2. take possession become the possessor or owner (of). vacant possession: see VACANT adjective 2b.
Comb.: possession order an order made by a court of law directing that possession of a property be given to the owner.
possessional adjective (rare) pertaining to possession; having possessions or property: L19.
possessionary adjective constituted by or relating to possession; having possession: M17.
possessioned adjective endowed with or holding possessions L18.
possessioner noun (obsolete exc. Hist.) (a) a holder, an occupier; an owner of possessions; (b) spec. a member of a religious order having possessions or endowments; an endowed ecclesiastic: LME.
possessionless adjective L19.