possuir

From Latin possidēre, from potis (“able”) + sedeō (“sit”).

• Hyphenation: pos‧su‧ir

possuir (first-person singular present possuo, first-person singular preterite possuí, past participle possuído)

1. to possess; to have; to own

   Possuo dois automóveis.

   (I) have two automobiles.

2. to have as a quality or characteristic

   Antonym: carecer de

   Esta frase possui cinco palavras.

   This phrase has five words.

3. to control; to hold (exercise influence over)

   O cristianismo possuia a Europa durante a Idade Média.

   Christianity controlled Europe during the Middle Ages.

4. (spiritualism) to possess (to take control of someone’s body or mind in a supernatural manner)

   Antonym: exorcisar

   Graças ao exorcismo, João livrou-se do demônio que o havia possuído.

   Thanks to the exorcism, John got rid of the demon who had possessed him.

5. to overwhelm (to overpower emotionally)

   O medo nos possuiu.

   Fear overwhelmed us.

6. (proscribed) to have (to be related to)

   Eu possuo dois filhos.

   I have two children

• (to own): deter, haver (obsolete), ter
• (to have as a quality or characteristic):, conter, ter
• (to control):, controlar, dominar, subjugar
• (to overwhelm emotionally):, dominar