possessed

American  

[puh-zest] / pəˈzɛst /

adjective

1. spurred or moved by a strong feeling, madness, or a supernatural power (often followed by by, of, orwith ).

   The army fought as if possessed. The village believed her to be possessed of the devil.

2. self-possessed; poised.

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idioms

1. possessed of,  having; possessing.

   He is possessed of intelligence and ambition.

possessed British  

/ pəˈzɛst /

adjective

1. (foll by of) owning or having

2. (usually postpositive) under the influence of a powerful force, such as a spirit or strong emotion

3. a less common word for self-possessed

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Other Word Forms

• nonpossessed adjective
• possessedly adverb
• possessedness noun
• unpossessed adjective

Etymology

Origin of possessed

First recorded in 1525–35; possess + -ed ²

Example Sentences

What is inarguable is that Shepard possessed iconic beauty, whose “imperfections,” such as the crookedness of his teeth, only added to his allure.

From The Wall Street Journal

No one else in the sport’s recent history has possessed such a knack for driving fans, administrators and executives completely mad.

From The Wall Street Journal

The MGM brass realized, Mr. Eyman writes, that “she possessed something valuable—an electric charge that made an audience sit up and take notice.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Richardson tries not to dwell on the subject, but it’s clear that Matthiessen possessed a Paul Newman-esque beauty, which he found both burdensome and advantageous.

From The Wall Street Journal

Similarly, when Ms. Wilson’s mother died, only months after her husband’s departure, she discovered that her mother’s former kitchen implements possessed the power to reconnect mother and daughter, if only in memory.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• consumed
• enchanted
• haunted