POSSESSION Definition & Meaning

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possession

[ puh-zesh-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the act or fact of possessing.
Synonyms: ,
the state of being possessed.
ownership.
Law. actual holding or occupancy, either with or without rights of ownership.
a thing possessed:
He packed all his possessions into one trunk.
possessions, property or wealth.
a territorial dominion of a state.
Sports.
1. physical control of the ball or puck by a player or team:
  He didn't have full possession when he was tackled.
2. the right of a team to put the ball into play:
  They had possession after the other team sank a free throw.
control over oneself, one's mind, etc.
domination, actuation, or obsession by a feeling, idea, etc.
the feeling or idea itself.

possession

/ ��əˈ��ɛʃə�� /

noun

the act of possessing or state of being possessed
in possession of the crown
anything that is owned or possessed
plural wealth or property
the state of being controlled or dominated by or as if by evil spirits
the physical control or occupancy of land, property, etc, whether or not accompanied by ownership
to take possession of a house
a territory subject to a foreign state or to a sovereign prince
colonial possessions
sport control of the ball, puck, etc, as exercised by a player or team
he lost possession in his own half

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

�Դǲ�p�ǲ�·��s��ǲ� noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of possession¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin ��ǲ��ō��-, stem of ��ǲ��ō “occupancy, act of occupying,” from possess(us) “occupied” (past participle of ��ǲ��ŧ�� “to have in one's control, occupy,” from pos-, combining form of pot(is) “able” + -��ŧ��, combining form of ��ŧ�� “to sit”) + -��ō -ion; host ¹, sit ¹

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Synonym Study

See custody.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They got within five points in the final five minutes and within five in the final 60 seconds, but never within a single possession.

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The book's publishers said Mr Shegwara is facing legal proceedings over the "alleged possession of classified security documents, without legal justification."

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The Women and Equalities Committee says the law needs to be strengthened to make possession of non-consensual intimate images illegal.

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A ranch used as a training camp by a Mexican drug cartel was littered with burned bodies and discarded possessions.

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As the notorious weekend approaches, officials remind partygoers of California’s Good Samaritan law, which exempts anyone who seeks help for someone overdosing from punishment for drug possession or being under the influence.

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