posséder

Posséder is a French verb meaning to own or to possess something, either as property or as a right or quality. It is a transitive verb used to indicate definitive ownership or control of a noun, including property, resources, or intangible attributes such as skills or knowledge.

Etymology and forms: Posséder comes from Old French posséder, ultimately from Latin possidēre or possessus, forms related to the idea of having or holding. In present tense, the verb shows regular -er verb endings with notable orthography: je possède, tu possèdes, il possède, nous possédons, vous possédez, ils possèdent. The past participle is possédé, used to form compound tenses with avoir, as in j’ai possédé. The imperfect is possessd and so on, with standard historic forms: je possédais, il possédait, etc.

Usage and nuance: Posséder is used for both tangible possessions (une maison, une voiture) and intangible ones (des compétences, des droits). It often conveys a sense of definite ownership or possession that is legally or practically recognized. It can be contrasted with détenir (to hold or possess in a physical or temporary sense) or avoir (to have, more general). Examples: Elle possède une villa au bord de la mer. Ils possèdent des actions dans la société. On peut posséder des connaissances avancées.

Related concepts: Propriété, propriétaire, possession, détention. In legal and economic contexts, posséder aligns with ownership rights and the ability to dispose of the possessed object.

See also: Possession, ownership, property law, possession in French grammar.