possessive 1078
nine tenths/nine points of the law a person who actually possesses a thing is in a better position to keep it than someone else who may have a better claim to own it
pos·ses·sive^1 /pəˈzesɪv/ adj 1 derog a) unwilling to share one's own things with other people b) wanting someone to have feelings of love or friendship only for oneself: a possessive father who resents his daughter's boyfriends 2 (in grammar) of or being a word that shows ownership or connection: 'My' and 'its' are possessive adjectives. —ly adv
—ness n [U]
possessive^2 n (in grammar) a possessive word or form: 'Hers' is the possessive of 'she.' → compare GENITIVE
pos·ses·sor /pəˈzesə/ n [(of) usually sing.] fml a person who owns or has something (often a quality rather than a piece of property): He is the (proud) possessor of (=he has) a fine singing voice.
pos·set /ˈpɒsɪt||ˈpɑː-/ n a drink made from warm milk mixed with wine or beer, taken in former times to cure colds
pos·si·bil·i·ties /ˌpɒsəˈbɪlətiz||ˌpɑː-/ n [P] ability to be developed, improved, or made useful in the future; POTENTIAL: The flat's in a poor condition but it has distinct possibilities if you can decorate it and clean it up a bit.
pos·si·bil·i·ty /ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti||ˌpɑː-/ n 1 [S;U(of)] a (degree of) likelihood: The fire looked like an accident, but the police are still considering the possibility of (=considering whether it could have been) arson. | [+that] 'Is there any possibility that you'll be back by the weekend?' 'There's a strong possibility I won't.' 2 [U] the fact of being possible: Travel outside our solar system is not within the realms of possibility (=is not possible) at present. 3 [C] something that is possible: The general would not accept that defeat was a possibility.
pos·si·ble^1 /ˈpɒsəbl||ˈpɑː-/ adj 1 that can exist, happen, or be done: It's no longer possible to find a cheap flat in London. | I'll do everything possible to help you. I'll help you if (at all) possible. (=if it is possible) | Do it as soon as possible. (=as soon as you can) 2 [F] that may or may not be, happen, or be expected: It is possible that the doctor may want you to have an X-ray. | The supermarket is probably closed by now, but it's possible that it's still/it will still be open. 3 acceptable; suitable: This is only one of many possible answers.
possible^2 n 1 [the] that which can exist or can be done: That's quite beyond the bounds of the possible! (=that is completely impossible) 2 [C] a person or thing that might be suitable: Emma's a possible for the job.
pos·si·bly /ˈpɒsəbli||ˈpɑː-/ adv 1 in accordance with what is possible: I'll do all I possibly can. | You can't possibly walk 20 miles in an hour! (=it's impossible) 2 perhaps: 'Will you come with us tomorrow?' 'Possibly, I'm not sure yet.' | (in polite requests) Could you possibly lend me £10?
pos·sum /ˈpɒsəm||ˈpɑː-/ also opossum especially BrE — n pl possums or possum 1 any of various types of a small tree climbing animal found in either America or Australia 2 play possum infml to pretend to be asleep or inattentive in order to deceive someone
post^1 /pəʊst/ n 1 [C] (often in comb.) a strong thick upright pole or bar made of wood, metal etc, fixed into the ground or some other base, especially as a support: The fence was made of wooden posts and barbed wire. | a gatepost | a sign-post 2 [the] the finishing place in a race, especially a horse race: The horses galloped towards the winning/finishing post. | My horse got beaten at the post. (=when it was very close to finishing the race) 3 [C] infml for GOALPOST: The ball hit the post. → see also FIRST PAST THE POST, from pillar to post (PILLAR), pipped at the post (PIP)
post^2 especially BrE || mail especially AmE — n 1 [the;U] the official system for carrying letters, parcels etc, from the sender to the receiver: I sent the parcel by post. | My reply is in the post and you will probably receive it tomorrow. | The parcel got lost in the post. → see also by return (of post) (RETURN) 2 [(the) S;U] (a single official collection or delivery of) letters, parcels etc, sent by this means: Has the post arrived? | A letter has come for you in the second post. (=the second delivery of the day) | Has any post come for me today? 3 [the] infml an official place, box etc, where stamped letters are left for sending: I've just taken her birthday card down to the post. → compare PILLAR BOX, POSTBOX, POST OFFICE; see also STAGING POST; see MAIL (USAGE)
post^3 v [T(OFF, to)] 1 especially BrE || mail especially AmE — to send (a letter, parcel etc) by post: I must post off all my Christmas cards this week. | Could you post this letter for me please? | I posted it (to you) on Friday. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] Did you post John the book? | (fig.) Bring me back the key. If I'm not in when you call you can post it through my letterbox. 2 keep someone posted to continue to give someone all the latest news about something
post^4 n 1 a job: The vacant post was advertised in today's paper. → see JOB (USAGE) 2 a) a special place of duty, especially on guard or on watch: The soldier was punished for falling asleep at his post. b) a military base or camp → see also LAST POST, TRADING POST
post^5 also station especially AmE — v [T] 1 to place (soldiers, policemen etc) on duty in a special place, especially as a guard: Pickets were posted at the factory gate. 2 [+obj+adv/prep] especially BrE to send or appoint to a particular army group, a place or duty with a company etc: Jackson has been posted to Hong Kong/posted overseas.
post^6 v [T] 1 [(UP)] to put up a notice about (something) on a wall, board, post etc, so as to make it public: The names of the members of the team will be posted up today. 2 [+obj+adj; usu pass.] to make known as being, by putting up a notice: The ship was posted missing.
post- → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
Post, Em·i·ly /ˈeməli/ (1872-1960) a US writer of books and newspaper articles which gave advice on ETIQUETTE (=correct and polite social behaviour)
Post, the 1 the WASHINGTON POST 2 the NEW YORK POST 3 the SUNDAY POST
post·age /ˈpəstɪdʒ/ n [U] the money charged for carrying a letter, parcel etc, by post: Please enclose £5.50 plus 99p postage.
postage meter n AmE a machine which puts a mark on letters and packages to show that postage has been paid and which is used mostly by businesses
postage stamp n fml for STAMP
post·al /ˈpəstl/ adj [A] especially BrE 1 connected with the public letter service: Postal charges have gone up again. 2 sent by post: a postal reminder 3 go postal AmE humor slang to suddenly become very violent and start attacking people, because you are under great stress
postal order n (in Britain) an official paper of a particular value which can be sent by post. The receiver can change it for money of the same value at a post office: a 50p postal order → compare MONEY ORDER
Postal Service, the also the US Postal Service the official name for the US government department responsible for collecting and delivering mail
postal vote n a vote sent through the post, especially by a person who cannot be present to vote on the day of an election
post-bag /ˈpəʊstbæg/ n especially BrE 1 [C] a postman's bag for carrying letters; MAILBAG 2 [S] infml all the letters received by someone at one particular time: The magazine's advice column always gets a big postbag.
post-box /ˈpəʊstbɒks||-bɑːks/ especially BrE || mail-box, mail drop AmE — n an official metal box in a public place, fixed to the ground or on a wall, into which people can put letters to be collected and sent by post → compare POST; see also LETTERBOX, PILLAR BOX
post-card /ˈpəʊstkɑːd||-kɑːrd/ n 1 a card of a fixed size for sending messages by post without an envelope 2 also picture postcard fml — a card like this with a picture or photograph on one side
post·code /ˈpəʊstkəʊd/ BrE || zip code AmE — n a group of