possess
/pəˈzes/verb
with obj.
1
- have as belonging to one; own拥有：
I do not possess a television set.
我没有电视机。
1.1
- Law have possession of as distinct from ownership【律】持有, 私藏：
a two-year suspended sentence for possessing cocaine.
因私藏可卡因而判缓刑两年。
1.2
- have as an ability, quality, or characteristic具有：
he did not possess a sense of humour
他没有幽默感
(be possessed of) a fading blonde possessed of a powerful soprano voice.
有着一副女高音嗓门的淡金发女郎。
1.3
possess oneself of
archaic take for one's own〈古〉占为己有：all that the plaintiffs did was to possess themselves of the securities.
原告们所做的一切就是将这些证券占为己有。
2
- （一般作be possessed）(of a demon or spirit, especially an evil one) have complete power over (someone) and be manifested through their speech or actions（尤指邪恶的鬼魅或精灵）缠住, 迷住：
she was possessed by the Devil.
她被魔鬼给缠住了。
2.1
- (of an emotion, idea, etc.) dominate the mind of; have an overpowering influence on（情感、观点等）控制, 支配; 影响：
I was possessed by a desire to tell her everything.
我被那渴望向她吐露一切的想法控制住了。
3
- chiefly poetic/literary have sexual intercourse with (a woman)〈主诗/文〉与（女人）性交。
4
- archaic maintain (oneself or one's mind or soul) in a state or condition of patience or quiet〈古〉使（自己、心情或灵魂）保持耐心（或平静）：
I tried to possess my soul in patience and to forget how hungry I was.
我力图保持耐心, 忘记自己已是饥肠辘辘。
[ORIGIN: often with biblical allusion to Luke 21:19, the proper sense （'gain your souls'） being misunderstood.]
短语
what possessed you?
- used to express surprise at an action regarded as extremely unwise你着什么魔了？：
what possessed you to come here?
你着了什么魔竟跑到这儿来了？
词源
late Middle English: from Old French possesser, from Latin possess- 'occupied, held', from the verb possidere, from potis 'able, capable'+sedere 'sit'.