"possess" and "be possessed of"

Question

Hi, would someone please tell me what's the difference between "possess" and "be possessed of" if I want to express the meaning of "have ... as an attribute, skill, etc." ? Thanks.

Philip · Accepted Answer

He possesses a rare skill in playing the piano.

He is possessed of the devil.

Anonymous · Answer

The difference is one is used in the present tense and the other in the past tense

ie I possess this vehicle. - Present

He had possessed this vehicle - Past

The comment about the devil is so wrong, it is not a skill

Farihasaleh · Answer

I agree that "possessed" is the past form of "possess" but the sentence given about devil is not about skill - it's about the devil 'owning' him.

You could also say: He is possessed by the devil.

Therefore, the sentence is not wrong!

Fariha.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

would someone please tell me what's the difference between "possess" and "be possessed of" if I want to express the meaning of "have ... as an attribute, skill, etc."

He possesses a red car.

He is possessed of a red car.

He possesses a talent for the violin.

He is possessed of a talent for the violin.

There is really no difference here, except that 'possessed of' is less common, and sounds more formal and perhaps old-fashioned.

You might wish to consider these examples from online dictionaries, dealing with 'possessed of'. The pink highlighting is mine.

hhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/possessed+of

—Idiom

3.	possessed of, having; possessing: He is possessed of intelligence and ambition.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/possessed

pos·sessed

(p

-z

st

)

adj.

1. Owning or mastering something. Used with of: one who is possessed of great wealth.

2. Controlled by or as if by a spirit or other force; obsessed: a teenager by love possessed.

3. Calm; collected: one who remained possessed in times of great trial.

Usage Note: When the adjective possessed means "owning a thing, exhibiting an attribute," it is followed by the preposition of: possessed of property; possessed of a sharp tongue. When possessed means "obsessed," by or with follows: possessed by (or with) an urge to kill.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

No, Phillip. If he is possessed of the devil, that means that he owns the devil, which I doubt is what you meant to say. If the devil has occupied his body, then he is possessed by the devil, not of the devil. I hate the "possessed of" usage and find it pretentious, as it is much simpler and clearer just to say you possess something, but saying, "I possess that car" means the same as saying, "I am possessed of that car."

Anonymous · Answer

While I certainly agree that both the following sentences indicate possesion by the driver, going by my feelings on the matter, I belive they hold very different naunce. Which could sound pretentious when used in certain ways or by certain people.

"I possess that car"
"I am possessed of that car."

The second sounds much more passive, like they just happened to come into it's ownership. Or any number of things denoted by context. Like, that they couldn't help but buy/drive/whatever the car, due to being an obsessive motorhead or something...

"I am possesed of good hand-eye co-ordination" Sounds like a natural gift, and more humble.
"I posses good hand-eye co-ordination" and it's something I trained over time.

"possess" and "be possessed of"

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions