possessor
(pəˈzɛsə(r))
Also 5–7 -our, 6–8 -er.
[ME. and AF. possessour, = F. possesseur (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. possessor, -ō rem, agent-n. f. possidēre to possess; with later conformation of suffix to Latin: see possess and -or1.]
One who possesses; one who holds something as property, or in actual control; one who has something (material or immaterial) belonging to him; a holder; an owner, proprietor. Const. of, or with poss. pron.
| 1388 Wyclif Acts iv. 34 How manye euere weren possessouris of feeldis, ether of housis, thei seelden. 1477 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 187/1 Possessours of the Roiall Estate and Corone of Englond. 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. C vj b, The possessor of theys armys beris in latine thus [etc.]. 1535 Coverdale Gen. xiv. 19 The most hye God, possessor of heauen and earth. 1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. i. 29 She..their possessours often did dismay. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 252 Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell Receive thy new Possessor. 1794 Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho i, This charm was too dangerous to its possesser. 1839 Ld. Brougham Statesm. Geo. III, I. 36 Unlimited power corrupts the possessor. 1883 H. Walker in Leisure Hour 501/2 The hornbeams..are the true autochthones and rightful prescriptive possessors of Epping Forest. |
b. spec. (mainly Law). One who takes, occupies, or holds something without ownership, or as distinguished from the owner.
| 1565–6 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 432 Summond thame to compeir befoir the Lordis of Sessioun, to heir thame decernit violent possessouris. 1747 Hooson Miner's Dict. N iij, Takers or Possessers have been cast and quite thrown out. 1800 Addison Amer. Law Rep. 129 The possessor remains liable to the true owner. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 372 Littleton..speaks of disseisins principally as between the owner and trespasser or possessor, with an eye to the remedy by assize. |
c. fig. (a) One acquainted or conversant with, or master of, a subject; (b) One who maintains control over (himself). Cf. possess v. 2 e, 4.
| 1674 Playford Skill Mus. Pref. 9 Whose love of this Divine Art appears by his Encouragement of it and the Possessors thereof. 1713 M. Henry Ordination Serm. Wks. 1853 II. 505/2 We are most our own possessors, when we are least our own masters. |
d. Comm. The holder (of a bill, etc.).
| 1682 J. Scarlett Exchanges 63 It is the Duty of the Possessor, to take care for his Bill, and to see that the same be either accepted or protested. 1809 R. Langford Introd. Trade 134 Possessor, the person who receives a foreign bill and presents it for acceptance. |