possessive

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   desirous of owning

   small children are so possessive they will not let others play with their toys

2. 2
   adj

   having or showing a desire to control or dominate

   a possessive parent

3. 3
   adj

   serving to express or indicate possession

   possessive pronouns

4. 4
   adj

   Unwilling to yield possession of.

   He is very possessive of his car.

5. 5
   noun

   A word used to indicate the possessive case.

   Take the rule about pronouns and possessives that Mr. Keegan cited in his challenge to the testing service.

6. 6
   noun

   the case expressing ownership

7. 7
   adj

   Of or pertaining to ownership or possession.

8. 8
   adj

   Indicating ownership, possession, origin, etc.

Etymology

From Middle French possessif, from Latin possessivus (“of or pertaining to possession”), from possessiō (“possessing”), from possidēre (“to possess”). By surface analysis, possess + -ive.