obsess

[ uhb-ses ]

/ əbˈsɛs /

verb (used with object)

to dominate or preoccupy the thoughts, feelings, or desires of (a person); beset, trouble, or haunt persistently or abnormally: Suspicion obsessed him.

verb (used without object)

to think about something unceasingly or persistently; dwell obsessively upon something.

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Origin of obsess

1495–1505; < Latin obsessus, past participle of obsidēre to occupy, frequent, besiege, equivalent to ob- ob- + -sid(ēre) combining form of sedēre to sit¹

SYNONYMS FOR obsess

1 possess, control, haunt.

OTHER WORDS FROM obsess

ob·sess·ing·ly, adverbob·ses·sor, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH obsess

abscess obsess

Words nearby obsess

observation post, observational, observatory, observe, observer, obsess, obsessed, obsession, obsessive, obsessive-compulsive, obsessive-compulsive disorder

British Dictionary definitions for obsessor

obsess

/ (əbˈsɛs) /

verb

(tr; when passive, foll by with or by) to preoccupy completely; haunt

(intr; usually foll by on or over) to worry neurotically or obsessively; brood

Word Origin for obsess

C16: from Latin obsessus besieged, past participle of obsidēre, from ob- in front of + sedēre to sit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012