[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/possessed/)

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# possessed

adjective; past form of the verb possess

«possessed» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (past form, formal) Had or owned. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#m1)
2. (adjective) Controlled by an evil spirit or a very strong feeling, as in ghost stories. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#m2)
3. possessed of (formal, old): having a quality. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#m3)

### In the lessons

In ghost stories: "the house was possessed". In formal maths problems: "Tom possessed 15 cards" just means he had 15. Phrases: like a man possessed (doing something with wild energy), possessed by.

### Examples

- Tom possessed 15 cards before the game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#x1)
- In the film, the doll was possessed by a ghost. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#x2)
- He ran like a man possessed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#x3)
- She possessed great courage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#x4)
- The old knight possessed a magic sword. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#x5)
- What possessed you to paint the cat? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#x6)
- A WOMAN possessed a Hen that gave her an egg every day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/#x7)

### Note

See also "possess". "Like someone possessed" means very fast or wildly. In maths, "possessed" gives the starting amount.

## In Jewish tradition

Past tense of possess: took and owned, as when Israel took the land of its defeated enemies. In the primary lessons: In ghost stories: "the house was possessed". In formal maths problems: "Tom possessed 15 cards" just means he had 15. Phrases: like a man possessed (doing something with wild energy), possessed by.

### Examples

- So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him remaining; and they possessed his land. (Torah NUM.21.35, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/possessed/#x1)
- And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. (Torah DEU.30.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/possessed/#x2)
- And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. (Torah NUM.21.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/possessed/#x3)
- So the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which He swore to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. (Prophets JOS.21.43, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/possessed/#x4)
- And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm-trees. (Prophets JDG.3.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/possessed/#x5)
- And they possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even unto the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto the Jordan. (Prophets JDG.11.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/possessed/#x6)

### Note

See also "possess". "Like someone possessed" means very fast or wildly. In maths, "possessed" gives the starting amount.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «possessed» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possessed/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«possessed» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/possessed.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «possessed» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/possessed/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«possessed» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/possessed.html) on Mova free.