possedeva

Possedeva is the imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb pos-sedere, meaning to possess or own. It is used to describe past, ongoing states of possession or habitual possession, often in narrative or descriptive writing. For example: Lui possedeva una casa al mare. The imperfect conveys that the possession was not limited to a single moment but represented a condition over time.

Conjugation and usage notes: pos-sedere is a transitive verb that takes an object (what is possessed). In compound tenses, the auxiliary verb essere is not used; instead, avere is employed in the perfect tense: ho posseduto (I possessed). The imperfect forms include possedevo, possedevi, possedeva, possedevamo, possedevate, possedevano. The short form possedeva commonly appears in third-person singular contexts (lui/lei possedeva) and, with Lei as a formal pronoun, the same form can be used.

Etymology and related terms: the verb possedere derives from Latin pos-sidēre, meaning to possess or hold. It is related to the noun possesso (possession) and the adjective posseduto (possessed). In Italian, possedere is often contrasted with avere, which more broadly means “to have” but does not always emphasize legal or controlling ownership.

Usage considerations: pos-sedere emphasizes ownership, control, or entitlement over something, including property, rights, or resources. It is more common in formal or literary registers and can carry connotations of title or control rather than mere possession. In everyday speech, avere is frequently used for general “to have,” while pos-sedere conveys a stronger sense of ownership.

See also: possedere, possesso, posseduto, possedere (etymology), possesso (possession).