Pos*sess"ive*ly, adv. In a possessive manner.
Pos*sess"or (?), n. [L.: cf. F. possesseur.] 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.
Syn. -- Owner; proprietor; master; holder; occupant.
Pos*sess"o*ry (?), a. [L. possessorius: cf. F. possessoire.] 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.
Pos"set (?), n. [W. posel curdled milk, posset.] A beverage composed of
hot milk curdled by some strong infusion, as by wine, etc., -- much in
favor formerly. "I have drugged their posset." Shak.
Pos"set, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Posseted; p. pr. & vb. n. Posseting.] 1.
To curdle; to turn, as milk; to coagulate; as, to posset the blood.
[Obs.] Shak.
2. To treat with possets; to pamper. [R.] "She was cosseted and
posseted." O. W. Holmes.
Pos`si*bil"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Possibilities (#). [F. possibilitÈ, L.
possibilitas.] 1. The quality or state of being possible; the power of
happening, being, or existing. "All possibility of error." Hooker.
"Latent possibilities of excellence." Johnson.
2. That which is possible; a contingency; a thing or event that may not
happen; a contingent interest, as in real or personal estate. South.
Burrill.
Pos"si*ble (?), a. [F., fr. L. possibilis, fr. posse to be able, to
have power; potis able, capable + esse to be. See Potent, Am, and cf.
Host a landlord.] Capable of existing or occurring, or of being
conceived or thought of; able to happen; capable of being done; not
contrary to the nature of things; -- sometimes used to express extreme
improbability; barely able to be, or to come to pass; as, possibly he
is honest, as it is possible that Judas meant no wrong.
With God all things are possible.
Matt. xix. 26.
Syn. -- Practicable; likely. See Practicable.
Pos"si*bly, adv. In a possible manner; by possible means; especially,
by extreme, remote, or improbable intervention, change, or exercise of
power; by a chance; perhaps; as, possibly he may recover.
Can we . . . possibly his love desert?
Milton.
When possibly I can, I will return.
Shak.
Pos"sum (?), n. [Shortened from opossum.] (Zoˆl.) An opossum. [Colloq.
U. S.]
To play possum, To act possum, to feign ignorance, indifference or
inattention, with the intent to deceive; to dissemble; -- in allusion
to the habit of the opossum, which feigns death when attacked or
alarmed.
Post- (pst). [L. post behind, after; cf. Skr. paÁcbehind, afterwards.]
A prefix signifying behind, back, after; as, postcommissure, postdot,
postscript.
Post, a. [F. aposter to place in a post or position, generally for a
bad purpose.] Hired to do what is wrong; suborned. [Obs.] Sir E.
Sandys.
Post, n. [AS., fr. L. postis, akin to ponere, positum, to place. See
Position, and cf. 4th Post.] 1. A piece of timber, metal, or other
solid substance, fixed, or to be fixed, firmly in an upright position,
especially when intended as a stay or support to something else; a
pillar; as, a hitching post; a fence post; the posts of a house.
They shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts
and on the upper doorpost of the houses.
Ex. xii. 7.
Then by main force pulled up, and on his shoulders bore, The gates
of Azza, post and massy bar.
Milton.
Unto his order he was a noble post.
Chaucer.
Post, in the sense of an upright timber or strut, is used in
composition, in such words as king-post, queen- post, crown-post,
gatepost, etc.
2. The doorpost of a victualer's shop or inn, on which were chalked the
scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt. [Obs.]
When God sends coin I will discharge your post.
S. Rowlands.
From pillar to post. See under Pillar. -- Knight of the post. See under
Knight. -- Post hanger (Mach.), a bearing for a revolving shaft,
adapted to be fastened to a post. -- Post hole, a hole in the ground to
set the foot of a post in. -- Post mill, a form of windmill so
constructed that the whole fabric rests on a vertical axis firmly
fastened to the ground, and capable of being turned as the direction of
the wind varies. -- Post and stall (Coal Mining), a mode of working in
which pillars of coal are left to support the roof of the mine.
Post, n. [F. poste, LL. posta station, post (where horses were kept),
properly, a fixed or set place, fem. fr. L. positus placed, p. p. of
ponere. See Position, and cf. Post a pillar.] 1. The place at which
anything is stopped, placed, or fixed; a station. Specifically: (a) A
station, or one of a series of stations, established for the
refreshment and accommodation of travelers on some recognized route;
as, a stage or railway post. (b) A military station; the place at which
a soldier or a body of troops is stationed; also, the troops at such a
station. (c) The piece of ground to which a sentinel's walk is limited.
2. A messenger who goes from station; an express; especially, one who
is employed by the government to carry letters and parcels regularly
from one place to another; a letter carrier; a postman.
In certain places there be always fresh posts, to carry that
further which is brought unto them by the other.
Abp. Abbot.
I fear my Julia would not deign my lines, Receiving them from such
a worthless post.
Shak.
3. An established conveyance for letters from one place or station to
another; especially, the governmental system in any country for
carrying and distributing letters and parcels; the post office; the
mail; hence, the carriage by which the mail is transported.
I send you the fair copy of the poem on dullness, which I should
not care to hazard by the common post.
Pope.
4. Haste or speed, like that of a messenger or mail carrier. [Obs.] "In
post he came." Shak.
5. One who has charge of a station, especially of a postal station.
[Obs.]
He held office of postmaster, or, as it was then called, post, for
several years.
Palfrey.
6. A station, office, or position of service, trust, or emolument; as,
the post of duty; the post of danger.
The post of honor is a private station.
Addison.