Etymologically
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possideo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word possideo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (potis,sedeō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [pɔsˈsɪ.de.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [posˈsiː.de.o][1]

Forms

possideō (present infinitive possidēre, perfect active possēdī, supine possessum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from potis “able, master” and sedeō “to sit”: to sit as master, occupy.[2][1][3] The epitaphs of the Scipios and other early inscriptions spell it ⟨posid-⟩.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of holding land and property.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to have land in one's control, hold, occupy, as tenant or owner, as Caesar's part of the territory, to take occupancy, as in Cato, and to inhabit.[2][3] It meant to hold as property, to appropriate, and to contain or have as a quality, as in Lucretius and Plautus.[2] Of rulers and armies it meant to hold a country, to seize it, and to have power over persons.[2] It also meant to dominate, overwhelm, of natural forces and of emotions, as in Sallust, to fill a space, and to engross a person's time and thoughts, as in Plautus.[2] Döderlein says teneō is to hold fast physically, habeō to have in one's power, and possidēre to own.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to possess, acquire, occupy, have, hold.[7] It survives in Italian possedere and Spanish poseer.[1] English possession came from possessiō in the mid-14th century, and English possess in the late 14th century.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of holding land and property.[2][5]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of taking occupancy.[2][5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of holding territory.[2][3][5]
  • late 14th century – English possess is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To hold, occupy (land).[2]
  2. To own, possess.[2]
  3. To contain; to have (as a quality).[2]
  4. To hold (a country); to seize.[2]
  5. To dominate, overwhelm.[2]
  6. To engross (someone's thoughts).[2]

Word family

  • possessiō
  • possessīvus
  • possessor
  • possessus
  • possestrix

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Possideo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/possideo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·