possessed

UK: pəˈzest | US: pəˈzest

Definition
  1. adj. controlled or influenced by a supernatural force (e.g., a demon)

  2. adj. having an obsessive or irrational fixation

  3. vt. (past tense of "possess") owned, held, or dominated by someone/something

Structure
possess <to own/control>ed <past participle suffix>
Etymology

The word "possessed" derives from the Latin "possidēre" (to occupy, own), combining "potis" (able, powerful) and "sedēre" (to sit). The sense of "controlled by a demon" emerged in Late Latin and was reinforced by Christian theology, where spiritual ownership implied domination. The modern English form retains the original spelling of "possess" + the regular past participle suffix "-ed."

Examples
  1. The villagers believed the woman was possessed by an evil spirit.

  2. He acted like a man possessed, working tirelessly for days.

  3. She possessed a rare talent for painting.

  4. The demon-possessed character in the film terrified audiences.

  5. They possessed all the necessary documents for the application.