"To possess," v.

1. trans.

    a. To own, to have or gain ownership of; to have (wealth or material objects) as one's own; to hold as property.

1394 in Collectanea Topographica & Genealogica (1836) III. 256 Tho hadde we possessid of the forsaid londys..a Reles by the forsaid Sir Guy..of al his riht to the same londys. c1449 R. PECOCK Repressor 508 The expense of alle hise ricchessis now of him possessid and had. c1475 (c1445) R. PECOCK Donet 70 He treti{th} goddis good to bi it a{ygh}ens goddis licence..bi cause he may not possesse it. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xii. 15 For no mannes life stondeth in the haboundaunce of the thynges which he possesseth. 1568 (?a1513) W. DUNBAR Poems (1998) 121 Thocht all this warld thow did posseid, Nocht eftir death thow sall possess. 1612
 

3. trans. Of an idea, attitude, etc.: to take hold of (a person), to have a hold over (a person); to affect or influence strongly and persistently; to actuate, dominate, control.

c1460 Tree & 12 Frutes (McClean) 114 Vnmylde folk..ben not had and possessid of god with in hem self but ben from hem self and had and possessid of ire and wraith. 1581 W. FOWLER Wks. (1936) II. 30 If ather honesty might mouit thé, or ressoun had possessit thee. a1616 SHAKESPEARE Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) III. i. 207 My eares are stopt, and cannot hear good newes, So much of bad already hath possest them. a1616 SHAKESPEARE Tempest (1623) II. i. 204 What a strange drowsines possesses them?

 

4. trans. Of a demon or spirit, esp. an evil one: to occupy and have power over (a person, animal, etc.); to control or dominate from within. Freq. in pass. with by, with, {dag}of. Cf. OBSESS v. 1.
a1513 H. BRADSHAW Lyfe St. Radegunde (c1525) 18 Howe blessyd Radegunde delyuered a woman possessyd with a fynde from daunger and payne to helth and prosperite. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. iv. 24 Them that were possessed with devils. 1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke viii. 36 He that was possessed of the devyll. 1596 BP. W. BARLOW tr. L. Lavater Three Christian Serm. i. 23 The Hogges without leaue [of God the Father]..he coulde not possesse. 1612 T. DEKKER If it be not Good III. ii. 5, I am possest with the diuell and cannot sleepe. a1616 SHAKESPEARE Twelfth Night (1623) III. iv. 85 If all the diuels of hell be drawne in little, and Legion himselfe possest him, yet Ile speake to him.

 

    5. trans.

    a. To take possession of, seize, grasp; to come into possession of, obtain, gain, win. Now arch. and literary.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xxi. 19 With your pacience possesse your soules. [1611 A.V. In your patience possesse ye your soules. 1382 Wycliffite, E.V., {ygh}e schulen welde {ygh}oure soulis. 1881 R.V. ye shall win your souls]. 1586 A. DAY Eng. Secretorie I. sig. F3, A companie of rattes vpon a soddayne possest his house. 1590 SPENSER Faerie Queene III. iii. 51 How to effect so hard an enterprize, And to possesse the purpose they desird. a1616 SHAKESPEARE Tempest (1623) III. ii. 93 There thou maist braine him, Hauing first seiz'd his Bookes... Remember First to possesse his Bookes.