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See Posse comitatus. In posse. See In posse in the Vocabulary.

The power of the county, or the citizens who may be summoned by the sheriff to assist the authorities in suppressing a riot, or executing any legal precept which is forcibly opposed. Blackstone.

have in one's own keeping; to have and to hold. Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. Jer. xxxii. 15. Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power, After offense returning, to regain Love once possessed. Milton.

The act or state of possessing, or holding as one's own.

Of or pertaining to possession; arising from possession.

A possessor; a property holder. [Obs.] "Possessioners of riches." E. Hall. Having been of old freemen and possessioners. Sir P. Sidney.

Of or pertaining to the possessive case; as, a possessival termination. Earle.

Of or pertaining to possession; having or indicating possession. Possessive case (Eng. Gram.), the genitive case; the case of nouns and pronouns which expresses ownership, origin, or some possessive relation of one thing to another; as, Homer's admirers; the pear's flavor; the dog's faithfulness. -- Possessive pronoun…

In a possessive manner.

One who possesses; one who occupies, holds, owns, or controls; one who has actual participation or enjoyment, generally of that which is desirable; a proprietor. "Possessors of eternal glory." Law. As if he had been possessor of the whole world. Sharp.

Of or pertaining to possession, either as a fact or a right; of the nature of possession; as, a possessory interest; a possessory lord. Possessory action or suit (Law), an action to regain or obtain possession of something. See under Petitory.

some strong infusion, as by wine, etc., -- much in favor formerly. "I have drugged their posset." Shak.

Controlled by an evil spirit or by evil passions; wild. [Colloq.]

To put out of possession; to deprive of the actual occupancy of, particularly of land or real estate; to disseize; to eject; -- usually followed by of before the thing taken away; as, to dispossess a king of his crown. Usurp the land, and dispossess the swain. Goldsmith.

The act of putting out of possession; the state of being dispossessed. Bp. Hall.

One who dispossesses. Cowley.

Holding or held formerly in possession. [Obs.]

In possibility; possible, although not yet in existence or come to pass; -- contradistinguished from in esse.

To preoccupy, as ground or land; to take previous possession of. Dryden.

ding to invite favor; attracting confidence, favor, esteem, or love; attractive; as, a prepossessing manner. -- Pre`pos*sess"ing*ly, adv.