possess

动词 possess:

1. have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
2. have ownership or possession of
   同义词：own, have
3. enter into and control, as of emotions or ideas

1. The police asked me if I possessed a gun.
   警察问我是否有枪。
2. I don't know what possessed him to drive so fast down that busy street.
   我不知道他着了什么魔，在那条热闹的街上把车子开得这么快。

pos.sess

v.tr.（及物动词）
pos.sessed,pos.sess.ing,pos.sess.es
To have as property; own.
持有；拥有
To have as a quality, characteristic, or other attribute:
具有品质、特点或其他特征：
例句：
possessed great tact.
具有非凡的智谋

To acquire mastery of or have knowledge of:
掌握或懂得：
例句：
possess valuable data.
掌握珍贵的数据资料

To gain or exert influence or control over; dominate:
主宰，影响：增加或施加影响或控制；支配：
例句：
Fury possessed me.
我勃然大怒

To control or maintain (one`s nature) in a particular condition:
维持，控制：在特定情形下控制或耐住（性子）：
例句：
I possessed my temper despite the insult.
虽然受到侮辱我还是按捺住怒气

To cause to own, hold, or master something, such as property or knowledge:
使拥有，使掌握：使拥有、使持有或使掌握，如财产或知识：
例句：
She possessed herself of the unclaimed goods.
她把那些没人认领的货物占为己有

To cause to be influenced or controlled, as by an idea or emotion:
缠住，迷住：使受影响、使受控制，如使受某一想法或情感受影响或控制：
例句：
The thought of getting rich possessed him.
他整天就想着发财

Obsolete To gain or seize.
【废语】 获得或取得

来源：
Middle English possessen
中古英语 possessen
from Old French possesser
源自 古法语 possesser
from Latin possidôre possess-
源自 拉丁语 possidôre possess-
pos- [as master] * see poti-
pos- [作为主人] *参见 poti-
sedôre [to sit] * see sed-
sedôre [坐] *参见 sed-

【引伸】
posses.sor
n.（名词）