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Where does the word "possess" come from? It comes from Latin possidere, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "possess" come from? It comes from Latin possidere, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Possess’s story begins in Latin: possidere meant “to own.” 'potis', able, plus 'sedere', to sit: to sit as master. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as possesser. A legal term. It reached English by 1400s as possess. 'possessed' by spirits dates from the 1500s. Today, possess means to own or have.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient possidere "to own", 'potis', able, plus 'sedere', to sit: to sit as master.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval possesser "to own", a legal term.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s possess "to own", 'possessed' by spirits dates from the 1500s.