An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. To have as belonging to one; have as property; own.
   

   2. To have as a faculty, quality, or the like.
      

   3. Of a spirit, especially an evil one) to occupy, dominate, or control (a person) from within (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): M.E. possesen, from M.Fr. possesser, “to have and hold, take, be in possession of,” from L. possess-, p.p. stem of possidere “to have and hold, be master of, own,” probably a compound of potis “having power, powerful, able,” from PIE root *poti- “powerful; lord;” from which also derived Skt. patih “master, husband,” Gk. posis, Lithuanian patis “husband” + sedere, from PIE root *sed-, “to → sit.”

Etymology (PE): Dâreštidan, infinitive and back formation from dârešt, → possession.