Posse
[pos-ee] /ˈpɒs i/
noun
1.
.
2.
a body or force armed with legal authority.
[in pos-e; English in pos-ee] /ɪn ˈpɒs ɛ; English ɪn ˈpɒs i/
adverb, adjective, Latin.
1.
in possibility; potentially (contrasted with ).
/ˈpɒsɪ/
noun
1.
(US) Also called posse comitatus. the able-bodied men of a district assembled together and forming a group upon whom the sheriff may call for assistance in maintaining law and order
2.
(law) possibility (esp in the phrase in posse)
3.
(slang) a Jamaican street gang in the US
4.
(informal) a group of friends or associates
n.
1640s (in Anglo-Latin from early 14c.), shortening of posse comitatus “the force of the county” (1620s, in Anglo-Latin from late 13c.), from Medieval Latin posse “body of men, power,” from Latin posse “have power, be able” (see potent) + comitatus “of the county,” genitive of Late Latin word for “court palace” (see comitatus). Modern slang meaning “small gang” is probably from Western movies.
noun
: I thought posses were Jamaican. Language changes very fast here, now it just means a small gang
[1980s+ Black teenagers; probably fr the sheriff’s posse seen so often in cowboy movies]
Read Also:
- Posse-comitatus
[pos-ee kom-i-tah-tuh s, -tey-] /ˈpɒs i ˌkɒm ɪˈtɑ təs, -ˈteɪ-/ noun 1. the body of persons that a peace officer of a county is empowered to call upon for assistance in preserving the peace, making arrests, and serving writs. 2. a body of persons so called into service. /ˌkɒmɪˈtɑːtəs/ noun 1. the formal legal term […]
- Posser
/ˈpɒsə/ noun 1. a short stick used for stirring clothes in a washtub
- Posses
[pos-ee] /ˈpɒs i/ noun 1. . 2. a body or force armed with legal authority. /ˈpɒsɪ/ noun 1. (US) Also called posse comitatus. the able-bodied men of a district assembled together and forming a group upon whom the sheriff may call for assistance in maintaining law and order 2. (law) possibility (esp in the phrase […]
- Possessed
[puh-zest] /pəˈzɛst/ adjective 1. spurred or moved by a strong feeling, madness, or a supernatural power (often followed by by, of, or with): The army fought as if possessed. The village believed her to be possessed of the devil. 2. self-possessed; poised. Idioms 3. possessed of, having; possessing: He is possessed of intelligence and ambition. […]
- Possesses
[puh-zes] /pəˈzɛs/ verb (used with object) 1. to have as belonging to one; have as property; own: to possess a house and a car. 2. to have as a faculty, quality, or the like: to possess courage. 3. (of a spirit, especially an evil one) to occupy, dominate, or control (a person) from within: He […]