possédé

person possessed (by a demon)

noun pos-eh-DEH Rare

Origin: Latin possessus, seized

Usage Note

Possédé refers to a person believed to be under the control of a demon or evil spirit, as in religious or supernatural contexts. The feminine form is possédée. The verb posséder means to own or possess, and the same past participle can function as an adjective meaning 'possessed'. In informal speech, calling someone a possédé can hyperbolically describe frantic behaviour.

Examples

"Il criait comme un possédé."

Natural Translation

He was screaming like a man possessed.

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