Unpossession

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of not owning or having control over something
2. The condition where one lacks possession of an item or right
3. A situation characterized by the absence of ownership or possession of an object or asset

Etymology: The surprising part here is in the older half of the word. "Possession" comes from Latin "possidere," which joins "potis," meaning "able" or "master," with "sedere," "to sit." To possess something was literally to sit over it as its master. English took "possession" through Old French in the Middle English period, and it has carried that sense of control ever since. "Un-" is one of English's most productive prefixes, and it is attached here to the noun to mean the absence of that control. Because the prefix is so transparent, the meaning follows directly from the parts, with no separate history to trace. The word is rare in everyday use, so most readers will rely on "lack of possession" or "not owning" instead.