pos·sessed

(pə-zĕst′)

adj.

1. Owning or mastering something. Used with of: one who is possessed of great wealth.

a. Controlled by a spirit, demon, god, or other supernatural force.

b. Controlled by a strong inner drive; obsessed: possessed by love; possessed with rage.

3. Calm; collected: one who remained possessed in times of great trial.

Usage Note: When the adjective possessed means "owning a thing, exhibiting an attribute," it is followed by the preposition of: possessed of property; possessed of a sharp tongue. When possessed means "obsessed," by or with follows: possessed by (or with) an urge to kill.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

possessed

(pəˈzɛst)

adj

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

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pos•sessed

(pəˈzɛst)

adj.

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

2. self-possessed; poised.

Idioms:

possessed of, having; possessing: He is possessed of intelligence and ambition.

[1525–35]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.	1.	possessed - influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion; "by love possessed" obsessed controlled - restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds; "controlled emotions"; "the controlled release of water from reservoirs"
	2.	possessed - frenzied as if possessed by a demon; "the soldier was completely amuck"; "berserk with grief"; "a berserk worker smashing windows" amok, amuck, berserk, demoniac, demoniacal insane - afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement; "was declared insane"; "insane laughter"

possessed

adjective crazed, haunted, cursed, obsessed, raving, frenzied, consumed, enchanted, maddened, demented, frenetic, berserk, bewitched, bedevilled, under a spell, hag-ridden He behaved like someone possessed.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

possessed

adjective

Not easily excited, even under pressure:

calm, collected, composed, cool, cool-headed, detached, even, even-tempered, imperturbable, nonchalant, unflappable, unruffled.

Translations

riivattu

possuído

possessed

[pəˈzest] ADJ → poseso, poseído
to be possessed by demons → estar poseso or poseído por los demonios
like one possessed → como un poseído

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

possessed

[pəˈzɛst] adj (by spirit) → possédé(e)
like one possessed (man) → comme un fou; (woman) → comme une folle
like a man possessed → comme un fou

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

possessed

a. poseído-a, dominado-a por una idea o pasión.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

As for the thoughts of many other objects external to me, as of the sky, the earth, light, heat, and a thousand more, I was less at a loss to know whence these came; for since I remarked in them nothing which seemed to render them superior to myself, I could believe that, if these were true, they were dependencies on my own nature, in so far as it possessed a certain perfection, and, if they were false, that I held them from nothing, that is to say, that they were in me because of a certain imperfection of my nature.

View in context

There are some cases, however, in which, as the quality under consideration has no name, it is impossible that those possessed of it should have a name that is derivative.

We may therefore state that those things are said to be possessed of some specific quality which have a name derived from that of the aforesaid quality, or which are in some other way dependent on it.

View in context

Had Speranski sprung from the same class as himself and possessed the same breeding and traditions, Bolkonski would soon have discovered his weak, human, unheroic sides; but as it was, Speranski's strange and logical turn of mind inspired him with respect all the more because he did not quite understand him.

View in context

And I know that every one will confess that it would be most praiseworthy in a prince to exhibit all the above qualities that are considered good; but because they can neither be entirely possessed nor observed, for human conditions do not permit it, it is necessary for him to be sufficiently prudent that he may know how to avoid the reproach of those vices which would lose him his state; and also to keep himself, if it be possible, from those which would not lose him it; but this not being possible, he may with less hesitation abandon himself to them.

View in context

He was possessed of a handsome person and pleasing manners, and was a general favorite in the factory.

The tyrant observed the whisper, and conjectured its import, though he could not hear what was said; and he inwardly strengthened himself in his determination to keep the power he possessed over his victim.

View in context

Kwaque possessed overwhelmingly the slave-nature, while in Michael there was little more of the slave-nature than was found in the North American Indians when the vain attempt was made to make them into slaves on the plantations of Cuba.

Kwaque possessed a jews' harp, and, whenever the world of the Makambo and the servitude to the steward grew wearisome, he could transport himself to King William Island by thrusting the primitive instrument between his jaws and fanning weird rhythms from it with his hand, and when he thus crossed space and time, Michael sang-- or howled, rather, though his howl possessed the same soft mellowness as Jerry's.

View in context

Each house consisted of two compartments, and each family at Lebrun's possessed a compartment for itself, fitted out with all the essential paraphernalia of the bath and whatever other conveniences the owners might desire.

The children possessed themselves of the tent, and Mrs.

View in context

As for Hepzibah, she seemed not merely possessed with the east wind, but to be, in her very person, only another phase of this gray and sullen spell of weather; the east wind itself, grim and disconsolate, in a rusty black silk gown, and with a turban of cloud-wreaths on its head.

View in context