Basic Details
Word: Possessed
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Had or owned something; also had a quality or skill.
Synonyms: owned, had, held
Antonyms: lacked, lost
How to Spell Possessed
Syllables: pos - sessed
Tricky part: There are four s's in two pairs: poSSeSSed. Students often drop one pair (posessed or possesed).
Watch out for: posessed, possesed, posesed, possessd
Memory tip: Count to four as you write it: two s's after po, two more after the e. Possessed holds four s's in two pairs.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The old zamindar possessed more land than anyone else in the district.
Example 2: The museum possessed a sword said to belong to a Maratha general.
Example 3: Few people in the village possessed a radio in those days.
Fun Fact
In grammar, the possessive form, as in Ravi's book, takes its name from the verb possess because it shows who owns something.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. tresury 2. possessed 3. abundent 4. inherrit
a) to receive property from someone who has died
b) a place where money or valuables are kept
c) owned or had something
d) existing in large amounts
Show answer
c) owned or had something. Abundant, inherit and treasury each have a slip; possessed has all four of its s's.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Even as a boy, the famous tabla player possesed a sense of rhythm that amazed every teacher who heard him practise in the courtyard.
a) rhythm
b) courtyard
c) amazed
d) possesed
Show answer
d) possesed. The second half needs its own double s too: pos, then sess, then ed.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word possessed as used in the sentence:
The young pianist possessed a rare talent for playing by ear.
a) owned
b) had
c) held
d) lacked
Show answer
d) lacked. Had, owned and held repeat the idea of having; lacked means being without.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. When someone asks 'What possessed you to do that?', they want to know ____.
a) how much it cost you
b) who owns the thing you used
c) where you bought it
d) why you did something so strange
Show answer
d) why you did something so strange
2. The noun formed from possess is ____.
a) possessment
b) possessation
c) possessity
d) possession
Show answer
d) possession
