What's the difference between have and possess?

Have


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To hold in possession or control; to own; as, he has a farm.
  • (v. t.) To possess, as something which appertains to, is connected with, or affects, one.
  • (v. t.) To accept possession of; to take or accept.
  • (v. t.) To get possession of; to obtain; to get.
  • (v. t.) To cause or procure to be; to effect; to exact; to desire; to require.
  • (v. t.) To bear, as young; as, she has just had a child.
  • (v. t.) To hold, regard, or esteem.
  • (v. t.) To cause or force to go; to take.
  • (v. t.) To take or hold (one's self); to proceed promptly; -- used reflexively, often with ellipsis of the pronoun; as, to have after one; to have at one or at a thing, i. e., to aim at one or at a thing; to attack; to have with a companion.
  • (v. t.) To be under necessity or obligation; to be compelled; followed by an infinitive.
  • (v. t.) To understand.
  • (v. t.) To put in an awkward position; to have the advantage of; as, that is where he had him.

Example Sentences:

Possess


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To occupy in person; to hold or actually have in one's own keeping; to have and to hold.
  • (v. t.) To have the legal title to; to have a just right to; to be master of; to own; to have; as, to possess property, an estate, a book.
  • (v. t.) To obtain occupation or possession of; to accomplish; to gain; to seize.
  • (v. t.) To enter into and influence; to control the will of; to fill; to affect; -- said especially of evil spirits, passions, etc.
  • (v. t.) To put in possession; to make the owner or holder of property, power, knowledge, etc.; to acquaint; to inform; -- followed by of or with before the thing possessed, and now commonly used reflexively.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) These results indicate that astrocytes possess bradykinin receptors and that these are predominantly of the B2 subtype.
  • (2) Escherichia enterotoxigenic strains, Yersinia enterocolitica and Salmonella typhimurium virulent strains, Campylobacter jejuni clinical isolates possess more pronounced capacity for adhesion to enteric cells of Peyer's plaques than to other types of epithelial cells, which may be of importance in the pathogenesis of these infections.
  • (3) Cop rats, however, possess a single 'suppressor' gene which confers complete resistance to mammary cancer.
  • (4) I would immediately look askance at anyone who lacks the last and possesses the first.
  • (5) The blockade of H2 receptors is the primary action of these drugs; however, they possess also secondary actions which may represent untoward effects but in some cases may be actually useful (increase in prostaglandin synthesis, inhibition of LTB4 synthesis, etc.)
  • (6) The E. coli used did not possess collagenolytic activity nor did a variety of common aerobic clinical isolates.
  • (7) These results indicate that both the renal brush-border and basolateral membranes possess the Na(+)-dependent dicarboxylate transport system with very similar properties but with different substrate affinity and transport capacity.
  • (8) This suggests that the latter group does not possess the genetic equipment (Ir genes) to recognize the antigenic determinants and to synthesize the corresponding antibodies.
  • (9) 2-(4'-Isobutylphenyl)propionic acid, ibuprofen, is an antiinflammatory agent which possesses moderate platelet aggregation inhibitory activity.
  • (10) Thallium-201, a radiopharmaceutical that possesses many of the characteristics of potassium analogues, at present is receiving the greatest attention as a regional blood flow indicator.
  • (11) In contrast, strains carrying the substitutions Ile-30----Phe, Gly-33----Leu, Gly-58----Leu, and Lys-34----Val and the Lys-34----Val, Glu-37----Gln double substitution were found to possess a coupled phenotype similar to that of the wild type.
  • (12) These findings indicate an association between HLA-B7 and ankylosing spondylitis in American blacks and suggest that these patients who lack B27 but possess B7 represent a subgroup of patients with this disease.
  • (13) As Heseltine himself argued, after the success of last summer's Olympics, "our aim must be to become a nation of cities possessed of London's confidence and elan" .
  • (14) Rhesus monkey BAT mitochondria (BATM) possess an uncoupling protein that is characteristic of BAT as evidenced by the binding of [3H]GDP, the inhibition by GDP of the high Cl- permeability or rapid alpha-glycerol-3-phosphate oxidation.
  • (15) These preliminary experiments suggest that oSm is similar to IGF-I in its binding characteristics and that primary cultures of skeletal muscle satellite cells possess type I and type II IGF receptors.
  • (16) Acetylcholinesterase is a key enzyme in cholinergic neurotransmission for hydrolyzing acetylcholine and has been shown to possess arylacylamidase activity in addition to esterase activity.
  • (17) Moloney murine sarcoma virus ts110 possesses a thermosensitive splicing defect.
  • (18) Two group G streptococcal cultures (G 10187, G 11122) with surface antigen T4 possess surface receptors for human haptoglobin (Hp).
  • (19) The fact that the security service was in possession of and retained the copy tape until the early summer of 1985 and did not bring it to the attention of Mr Stalker is wholly reprehensible,” he wrote.
  • (20) A series of hierarchical multiple regressions revealed the effects of Surgency, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Intellect on evoking upset in spouses through condescension (e.g., treating spouse as stupid or inferior), possessiveness (demanding too much time and attention), abuse (slapping spouse), unfaithfulness (having sex with others), inconsiderateness (leaving toilet seat up), moodiness (crying a lot), alcohol abuse (drinking too much alcohol), emotional constriction (hiding emotions to act tough), and self-centeredness (acting selfishly).