I.to have and hold, to be master of, to own, possess (syn.: teneo, habeo).
I. Lit.: “uti nunc possidetis eum fundum q. d. a. (i. e. quo de agitur), quod nec vi nec clam nec precario alter ab altero possidetis, ita possidentis: adversus ea vim fieri veto, an ancient formula of the prætor,” Fest. p. 233 Müll.: “qui in alienā potestate sunt, rem peculiarem tenere possunt, habere et possidere non possunt: quia possessio non tantum corporis, sed etiam juris est,” Dig. 41, 2, 49: “ex edicto bona possidere,” Cic. Quint. 6, 25: “partem agri,” Caes. B. G. 6, 11: “solum bello captum,” Liv. 26, 11: “Galli Italiam maximis plurimisque urbibus possident,” Just. 38, 4, 9: “uniones,” Plin. 9, 35, 58, § 119.—
b. Absol., to have possessions, to possess lands, be settled: “juxta litora maris possidere,” Dig. 47, 9, 7: “possidere trans flumen,” ib. 43, 14, 1.—
B. Transf., for possido, to take possession of, to occupy (very rare except in eccl. and late Lat.): “ego possideo plus Pallante,” Juv. 1, 108: “quot agri jugera?” id. 3, 141: ferro septus possidet sedes sacras, Att. ap. Cic. de Or. 3, 26, 102; Auct. Her. 1, 11, 19: “forum armatis catervis perditorum hominum,” Cic. Dom. 42, 110 (dub.): “magister, quid faciendo vitam aeternam possidebo,” Vulg. Luc. 10, 25: “iniqui regnum Dei non possidebunt,” id. 1 Cor. 6, 9 et saep. —
2. To occupy, abide in a place (poet.): “victrix possidet umbra nemus,” Mart. 6, 76, 6: “Zephyri possidet aura nemus,” Prop. 1, 19, 2; Luc. 2, 454.—
II. Trop., to possess, to have a thing (class.): “possidere nomen,” Plaut. Mil. 2, 5, 27: “palmam,” id. Most. 1, 1, 31: “secli mores in se,” id. Truc. prol. 13: inverecundum animi ingenium, Poët. ap. Cic. Inv. 1, 45, 83: “plus fidei quam artis, plus veritatis quam disciplinae possidet in se,” Cic. Rosc. Com. 6, 17; id. Rosc. Am. 24, 66; Ov. F. 1, 586: “possedit favorem plebis Clodius,” Val. Max. 3, 5, 3.
