He is possessed by universal knowledge

Question

1: He is possessed of universal knowledge - a jack of all trades.
2: He possesses universal knowledge - a jack of all trades.
3: He is possessed by universal knowledge - a jack of no trades.

To me, the first and second stand for the same meaning, but the third is more like saying, he is possessed by a demon. 'universal knowledge' is, perhaps, a metonymy for somethng unspecified, and if this is actually the case, then 'the' is to be used in front of 'universal knowledge'. What do you say? Please let me know.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

1: He is possessed of universal knowledge - a jack of all trades.

2: He possesses universal knowledge - a jack of all trades.

3: He is possessed by universal knowledge - a jack of no trades.

To me, the first and second stand for the same meaning, Yes

but the third is more like saying, he is possessed by a demon. Yes

'universal knowledge' is, perhaps, a metonymy for somethng unspecified, and if this is actually the case, then 'the' is to be used in front of 'universal knowledge'. I really don't know what the writer means here. It doesn't sound like a suitable phrase at all. He needs to say it some other way.

Clive

Jackson6612 · Answer

I too say some modifications are required. But the lack of context shouldn't lead us to the conclusion that the use is incorrect in general. In particular contexts it could make perfect sense. e.g. Faust was possessed by evil knowledge. Here, 'evil knowledge' is a trope used for the devil. A person who claims can see fairies, dead persons walking, have glimpses of gods is undoubtedly entitling himself to something beyond an ordinary person's horizon.To some, he would be a saint, and to others he is simply possessed by universal knowledge with a ***** loose. An atheist can use it as a pejorative term for *** in the sense of so-called possessor of universal knowledge. The writer is simply allowing the reader to form their own interpretation.

Do I make any sense, or am I just babbling about nothing? And would you mind correcting mistakes in the paragraph above? Thanks.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Sure, you can say almost anything in the right context.

It's just that a phrase like' evil knowledge' is easier for me to interpret than 'unversal knowledge'.

Cheers, Clive

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thanks a lot.

Avangi · Answer

'universal knowledge' is, perhaps, a metonymy for somethng unspecified,

You add "jack of all trades" as an appositive. That seems pretty specific.

Of course there can be a big difference between "knowledge" and "the trades."
(Granted, "jack of all trades" is sometimes used figuratively.)

When I think of "universal knowledge" I think of Francis Bacon, a contemporary of Shakespeare, I believe, who set out to catalogue the world's knowledge.

He is possessed by universal knowledge

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