possession
98
6.7
- noun
- /pəˈzɛʃən/
- Formal
:
posesión
- One of the most bizarre aspects of the AATIP story is the allegation that the program was in possession of mystery metals.
- colonial possessions
- take possession of
- possession of land
You know, once it's outside the Chinese possession, you know, that's, it doesn't benefit them economically, you know, by purchasing that right now.
- You know, once it's outside the Chinese possession, you know, that's, it doesn't benefit them economically, you know, by purchasing that right now.
Examples
-
At issue was whether scientists or Native Americans could take possession of his remains.
Academic text (2011) -
When the British withdrew, therefore, sovereignty reverted to those in possession of the land: the Creeks.
Academic text (2008) -
But despite this you get this guy who shows up and quote claims possession of the East Coast of Australia for the British crown.
-
"We may be about to come into possession of some very high-level technology."
Fiction book (1998) -
The islands are still a British colonial possession, the last one in Africa, and Diego Garcia remains an important American military base.
-
ISIS suddenly found itself in possession of American arms, including Abrams tanks and up-armored Humvees.
Academic text (2015) -
The island is a remote possession of the British government, strategically important for military operations.
-
Hawaii became a U.S. possession in 1898, expanding the country's territory into the Pacific.
-
As a possession of the French Empire, this region was governed from thousands of miles away.
Synonyms
960
3.0
An area of land controlled by a country or ruler
41
5.6
An area controlled by a ruler, government, or organization
4
5.7
An area controlled by a distant country that is not fully independent
4
8.0
A territory that governs itself and was part of the British Empire
An area of land that a ruler or government controls
A land area controlled by a ruler or state
Antonyms
608
3.0
Freedom from control by others, for example when a country is free or a person supports themselves
Compounds
- Formal
5
8.2
Having or controlling something the law forbids that can lead to criminal charges
- NSFW
4
5.3
Having banned things like drugs or guns when the law does not allow it
1
6.7
A calm, confident control of your feelings and actions in difficult situations
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Possession comes from the Latin possidere, which means 'to hold', so a land or territory possession is a place a country 'holds' or controls. This explains why a colony or island could be called another nation's possession.