01 n. The act or state of possessing, or holding as one's own.
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1.
The act or state of possessing, or holding as one's own.
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2.
The having, holding, or detention of property in one's power or command; actual seizin or occupancy; ownership, whether rightful or wrongful.(Law)
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3.
The thing possessed; that which any one occupies, owns, or controls; in the plural, property in the aggregate; wealth; dominion; as, foreign possessions.“When the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” — Matt. xix. 22.“Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.” — Acts v. 1.“The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” — Ob. 17.
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4.
The state of being possessed or controlled, as by an evil spirit, or violent passions; madness; frenzy; as, demoniacal possession.“How long hath this possession held the man?” — Shak.
Phrases & compounds
To give possession —
to put in another's power or occupancy.
To put in possession —
To invest with ownership or occupancy; to provide or furnish with; as, to put one in possession of facts or information
To take possession —
to enter upon, or to bring within one's power or occupancy.
Writ of possession —
a precept directing a sheriff to put a person in peaceable possession of property recovered in ejectment or writ of entry.