possessing

3 definitions • 3 examples

present participle of

to have or own something, or to have a particular quality:

I don't possess a single DVD (= I don't have even one DVD).

In the past the root of this plant was thought to possess magical powers.

(of a wish or an idea) to take control over a person's mind, making that person behave in a very strange way:

[ + to infinitive ] Whatever possessed him to wear that appalling jacket!