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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



763 words match “POSSESS”

PROPRIETARY n.
A proprietor or owner; one who has exclusive title to a thing; one who possesses, or holds the title to, a thing in his own right. Fuller.
PROPRIETOR n.
One who has the legal right or exclusive title to anything, whether in possession or not; an owner; as, the proprietor of farm or of a mill.
PROSE a.
Possessing or exhibiting unpoetical characteristics; plain; dull; prosaic; as, the prose duties of life.
PROSELYTISM n.
onverts to a religion or a religious sect, or to any opinion, system, or party. They were possessed of a spirit of proselytism in the most fanatical degree. Burke.
PROTOPLASM n.
The viscid and more or less granular material of vegetable and animal cells, possessed of vital properties by which the processes of nutrition, secretion, and growth go forward; the so-called " physical basis of life;" the original cell substance, cytoplasm, cytoblastema, bioplasm sarcode, etc.
PROUD a.
Possessing or showing too great self-esteem; overrating one's excellences; hence, arrogant; haughty; lordly; presumptuous. Nor much expect A foe so proud will first the weaker seek. Milton. O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty ! Shak. And shades impervious to the proud world's glare. Keble.…
PUISSANT a.
puissant prince or empire. " Puissant deeds." Milton. Of puissant nations which the world possessed. Spenser. And worldlings in it are less merciful, And more puissant. Mrs. Browning.
PURCHASE n.
at which is obtained, got, or acquired, in any manner, honestly or dishonestly; property; possession; acquisition. Chaucer. B. Jonson. We met with little purchase upon this coast, except two small vessels of Golconda. De Foe. A beauty-waning and distressed widow . . . Made prize and purchase of his lustful eye. Shak.…
PURPLE a.
Exhibiting or possessing the color called purple, much esteemed for its richness and beauty; of a deep red, or red and blue color; as, a purple robe.
PURSE n.
gether like a purse. Mortimer. Purse pride, pride of money; insolence proceeding from the possession of wealth. Bp. Hall. -- Purse rat. (Zoöl.) See Pocket gopher, under Pocket. -- Sword and purse, the military power and financial resources of a nation.
PURSE-PROUD a.
Affected with purse pride; puffed up with the possession of riches.
PURSUE v.
happiness pursue; we fly from pain. Prior. The happiness of men lies in purswing, Not in possessing. Longfellow.
QUACK n.
Hence, one who boastfully pretends to skill or knowledge of any kind not possessed; a charlatan. Quacks political; quacks scientific, academical. Carlyle.
QUADRINODAL a.
Possessing four nodes; as, quadrinodal curves.
QUALIFICATION n.
an any character with success; an enabling quality or circumstance; requisite capacity or possession. There is no qualification for government but virtue and wisdom, actual or presumptive. Burke.
QUALIFIED a.
the approval of the executive. Qualified property (Law), that which depends on temporary possession, as that in wild animals reclaimed, or as in the case of a bailment.
QUALIFY v.
y. He had qualified himself for municipal office by taking the oaths to the sovereigns in possession. Macaulay.
QUART n.
The fourth part; a quarter; hence, a region of the earth. [Obs.] Camber did possess the western quart. Spenser.
QUICKENING n.
of the term of pregnancy. It has been popularly supposed to be due to the fetus becoming possessed of independent life.
RAFFLE n.
and then determine by chance (as by casting dice) which one of them shall become the sole possessor.
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