Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “possess” come from?

Possess comes from Middle English possessen, from Old French possesser, from Latin possessus, past participle of possidēre meaning "to have or hold," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sed- meaning "to sit."

possess (English): To have; to have ownership of; To take control of...

Definitions

  1. To have; to have ownership of; To take control of...

Ancestry of “possess”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishpossessen—
2Middle Frenchpossesserto possess
3Old Frenchpossesserto possess
4Latinpossessuspossessed; seized
5Latinpossideō—
6Latinpotisable, capable, possible
7Proto-Italicpotis—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpótismaster, ruler; husband
9Proto-Indo-Europeanph₃tis—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₃-to drink

Words derived from “possess”

  • possessing
  • possessor
  • repossess
  • possesseth
  • possessee
  • prepossess
  • possessest
  • possessorship
  • possessable
  • possesst
  • repossessor
  • unpossessable
  • nonpossessing
  • unpossessing
  • possessingly
  • nonpossessor
  • possessoress
  • unpossess
  • posedi
  • posedaĵo
  • desposedigar
  • posedar
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- →