Besatt

Besatt is a word used in Norwegian and Swedish, with cognates in Danish, that functions as an adjective describing possession or fixation. In supernatural contexts it denotes being possessed by a spirit or demon. In a figurative sense, it can describe someone who is intensely preoccupied or obsessed with a person, idea, or activity. The nuance depends on context: possession in religious or folklore spheres, or an intense personal fixation in everyday language.

The term derives from verbs meaning “to occupy” or “to possess” and is formed as a participial adjective. In Norwegian and Swedish, besatt typically conveys possession or obsession, and it commonly appears with the preposition av to indicate what one is possessed by or obsessed with (for example, besatt av en idé). In Danish usage, the cognate besat more often means “occupied,” such as territory or a building, though besatt can appear in religious or archaic contexts.

Usage and connotations can vary by register. In colloquial speech, besatt often appears in expressions describing strong interest or enthusiasm, sometimes with a slightly negative tone when describing an unhealthy fixation. In literature and media from the Nordic countries, the concept of besatt frequently appears in horror, thriller, and psychological works, where possession or extreme fixation drives the plot.

See also: besettelse (obsession), besættelse (possession or obsession in related Scandinavian variants).