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possessive — showing a desire to own or control someone or something

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: showing a desire to own or control someone or something

Pronunciation (IPA): /pəˈzesɪv/

Example Sentences

  • My cat is so possessive that it won't let other cats near its food bowl.
  • The possessive form of 'children' is 'children's'.
  • He's so possessive of his pizza that he counts each slice before sharing.

possessive

ADJECTIVE

[/pəˈzesɪv/]

showing a desire to own or control someone or something

showing a desire to own or control someone or something
💡 Concept

showing a desire to own or control someone or something

When possessive turns aggressive, love becomes excessive!
🎵 Rhyme

When possessive turns aggressive, love becomes excessive!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/pəˈzesɪv/
🇬🇧 UK/pəˈzesɪv/

🌳Etymology

Rootpossess
Suffix--ive

Origin

From Latin possidere, meaning 'to own' or 'to hold in possession'. The term evolved through Medieval Latin to describe the characteristic quality of ownership and control, particularly in reference to territorial and material dominion exercised by feudal nobility.

Breakdown

possess (from Latin possidere, 'to own') + -ive (suffix denoting quality or tendency), literally meaning 'having the quality of owning or holding'.

🎵Rhyme

excessive
aggressive
progressive

🔗Collocations

possessive behavior
possessive relationship
possessive mother
possessive pronoun
overly possessive
possessive instinct

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My cat is so possessive that it won't let other cats near its food bowl.”

“The possessive form of 'children' is 'children's'.”

😄 Fun example

“He's so possessive of his pizza that he counts each slice before sharing.”

“Her possessive attitude toward her friends drove them away.”

📚Related Words

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