possess

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*sed-“to sit”
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*pótis“master; ruler; husband”
3. Latin · derived frompossessus“possessed; seized”
4. Old French · derived frompossesser
5. Middle French · derived frompossesser
6. Middle English · inherited frompossessen“to have, own; to obtain possession of; to inhabit, occupy”
7. English todaypossess

PIE word *pótis From Middle English possessen (“to have, own; to obtain possession of; to inhabit, occupy”) [and other forms], from Middle French possesser, possessier, Old French possesser, possessier (“to have, own, possess; to dominate”), from Latin possessus (“possessed; seized”), the perfect passive participle of possideō (“to have, hold, own, possess; to have possessions; to take control or possession of, occupy, seize; to abide, inhabit, occupy; to dominate”), from potis (“able, capable, possible”) (from Proto-Indo-European *pótis (“master; ruler; husband”)) + sedeō (“to sit; to be seated; to be established, hold firm”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sed- (“to sit”)).

Words from the same roots