"Posessed of" is a phrase often used in literature to describe the state of being endowed or characterized by a particular quality, attribute, or possession. It is commonly used in past tense sentences to highlight a noteworthy characteristic or possession of an individual or group.
The phrase "were possessed of" suggests that someone or something had possession or ownership of a particular trait, quality, or attribute in the past. It indicates a state of being or having a distinct feature or possession. "Possessed" in this context denotes the idea of being in control or having ownership over something, while "of" indicates the object or quality possessed.
For example, if someone were to say, "The ancient kings were possessed of great wisdom," it implies that the kings in the past possessed an exceptional level of wisdom. This phrase emphasizes the quality of wisdom as a significant aspect of those kings' reign.
Similarly, if one were to say, "The group of friends were possessed of incredible courage," it suggests that the friends collectively had an outstanding level of bravery or fearlessness.
In essence, "were possessed of" is a way to convey the possession or ownership of distinct traits, qualities, or possessions in the past, expressing that a subject had a notable characteristic or attribute within a specific context or timeframe.
