古フランス語の possesser から、所有する、所有する、所有格にする、ラテン語の possidere から、所有する、所有する、-ss、過去分詞格、posse から、可能にする、力を持つ、sidere、座る、語源的には sit, session と同じ。
英語の語源
possess
possess: [15] Latin potis ‘able, having power’ (source of English posse and potent) was combined with the verb sīdere ‘sit down’ (a relative of English sit) to form a new verb possīdere. This meant literally ‘sit down as the person in control’, hence by extension ‘take possession of’ and ultimately ‘have, own’. It passed into English via Old French possesser. => possible, potent, sit
possess (v.)
late 14c., "to hold, occupy, reside in" (without regard to ownership), a back formation from possession and in part from Old French possesser "to have and hold, take, be in possession of" (mid-13c.), from Latin possess-, past participle stem of possidere "to have and hold, possess, be master of, own," from posse "to be able," from potis "able, powerful" (see potent) + esse "to be" (see be). Meaning "to hold as property" is recorded from c. 1500. Demonic sense is recorded from 1530s (implied in possessed). Related: Possessed; possessing.
例文
1. This figure has long been held to possess miraculous power.
という数字は長い間不思議な力を持っていると考えられてきた。
2.Their own lives already seemed to possess the symmetries of narrative art.
彼ら自身の生活はすでに叙事芸術の対称性を持っているようだ。
3.They are crediting science with power it doesn 't possess .
彼らは科学の力を誇張しすぎている。
4.They posses a formidable arsenal of rifles，machine guns，landmines and teargas.
彼らが持っているライフル銃、機関銃、地雷、催涙弾の数は驚くほどだ。
5.She pretends to various abilities she doesn 't，in fact， posses .