Word Study
possessive
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun possessive has 1 sense
- possessive(n = noun.communication) genitive, genitive case, possessive case - the case expressing ownership; Array is a kind of oblique, oblique case
has particulars: attributive genitive, attributive genitive case
Adjective possessive has 3 senses
- possessive(a = adj.pert) genitive - serving to express or indicate possession; "possessive pronouns"; "the genitive endings"
- possessive(s = adj.all) Array - desirous of owning; "small children are so possessive they will not let others play with their toys" Derived forms verb possess2, noun possessiveness1
- possessive(s = adj.all) Array - having or showing a desire to control or dominate; "a possessive parent" Derived forms verb possess2, noun possessiveness1
CIDE DICTIONARY
possessive, a. [L. possessivus: cf. F. possessif.].
Of or pertaining to possession; having or indicating possession. [1913 Webster]
possessive, n.
- The possessive case. [1913 Webster]
- A possessive pronoun, or a word in the possessive case. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
possessive, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 showing a desire to possess or retain what one already owns.
2 showing jealous and domineering tendencies towards another person.
3 Gram. indicating possession.
--n. (in full possessive case) Gram. the case of nouns and pronouns expressing possession.
--adj.
1 showing a desire to possess or retain what one already owns.
2 showing jealous and domineering tendencies towards another person.
3 Gram. indicating possession.
--n. (in full possessive case) Gram. the case of nouns and pronouns expressing possession.
Idiom
possessive pronoun each of the pronouns indicating possession (my, your, his, their, etc.) or the corresponding absolute forms (mine, yours, his, theirs, etc.).
Derivative
possessively adv. possessiveness n.
Etymology
L possessivus (as POSSESS), transl. Gk ktetike (ptosis case)
THESAURUS
possessive
acquisitive, ambitious for self, autistic, careerist, controlling, covetous, dominating, domineering, egotistical, grasping, greedy, individualistic, materialistic, narcissistic, niggardly, overbearing, personalistic, possessory, privatistic, proprietary, remote, self-absorbed, self-admiring, self-advancing, self-besot, self-centered, self-considerative, self-contained, self-devoted, self-esteeming, self-indulgent, self-interested, self-jealous, self-occupied, self-pleasing, self-seeking, self-serving, self-sufficient, selfish, stingy, ungenerous, ungiving, unyielding
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