in posse
Preserved but no longer current.
See IN ESSE. In propria persona (in prop'ria perso'na) (Lat.). Personally, and not by deputy or agents. la re (in re) (Lat.). In the matter of; on the subject of; as In re Jones v. Robinson. But in rem, against the property or thing referred to. In situ (in si' tti) (Lat.). In its original place.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “in posse” mean?
See IN ESSE. In propria persona (in prop'ria perso'na) (Lat.). Personally, and not by deputy or agents. la re (in re) (Lat.). In the matter of; on the subject of; as In re Jones v. Robinson. But in rem, against the property or thing referred to. In situ (in si' tti) (Lat.). In its original place.
Is “in posse” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.