actual possession
1
8.2
- noun
- Formal
:
posesión real
- The states' armed citizens would be animated with a spirit to defend their rights and liberties: "Let us not insult the free and gallant citizens of America with the suspicion that they would be less able to defend the rights of which they would be in actual possession than the debased subjects of arbitrary power would be to rescue theirs from the hands of their oppressors."
Examples
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Actual possession is defined as physical possession of the property—you actually hold it in your hand or you have it "on or about" your person.
Blog text (22) -
On the other end of the continuum is actual possession.
Blog text (22) -
Yes, it's in our actual possession this time.
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This results in simply different forms of private use. The difference was that in Berman, the government took actual possession of the condemned property.
Blog text (34) -
In response to Judge Alarcon's attempt to distinguish the Berman holding, Justice O'Connor merely noted that "the Act advances its purposes without the State's taking actual possession of the land."
Blog text (34) -
O'Neill saw the strategic value in an alliance between the Creeks and the Spanish Crown and was inclined positively when McGillivray wrote, "I solicit in behalf of the Creek Nations His Majesty's most Gracious Protection for themselves and Country, as is by them claimed and now held in actual possession."
Academic text (2008) -
Before the sale was finalized, she confirmed that she had actual possession of the property documents.
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In legal terms, actual possession means having immediate physical control over the item you own.
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The landlord must demonstrate that he has actual possession of the rental property during the eviction process.
Synonyms
230
2.0
The state of having or controlling something, especially property
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'actual' = real/current and 'possession' = having or control, so a learner who knows both words can infer 'actual possession' as real, physical control of property. Although used as a legal term with a precise definition, the basic sense is transparent and follows standard adjective + noun composition found cross-linguistically.
Etymology
The legal term actual possession comes from a simple, literal idea: actual means real or present and possession means having something in your hands. Imagine someone holding a phone or keys; because they have the item physically, they are in actual possession, so the phrase means 'direct physical control' rather than only a legal claim.