She possessed a certain knack of putting on her clothes, a talent for looking smart in an old, [ 225 ] worn blouse.
— from The Inevitable by Louis Couperus

Ascending the Alleghany River by way of Venango, he at length delivered Dinwiddie's letter to the French commander, Monsieur Le Gardeur de St. Pierre, a courteous Knight of the Order of St. Louis.
— from History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia by Charles Campbell

Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat was never more thoroughly exemplified, and the course pursued proves incontestably that Mr. Staunton possesses a certain kind of courage which does not stick at trifles.
— from The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion by Frederick Milnes Edge

Major Denham, Lieutenant Clapperton, of the navy, and Dr. Oudney, a naval surgeon, possessing a considerable knowledge of natural history, were appointed to the service.
— from Travels of Richard and John Lander into the interior of Africa, for the discovery of the course and termination of the Niger From unpublished documents in the possession of the late Capt. John William Barber Fullerton ... with a prefatory analysis of the previous travels of Park, Denham, Clapperton, Adams, Lyon, Ritchie, &c. into the hitherto unexplored countries of Africa by Robert Huish

The Government, to be of real use, should possess a complete knowledge of all the parties, all the circumstances, and all the interests of a nation.
— from The Writings Of Thomas Paine, Volume III. 1791-1804 by Thomas Paine

The Father Superior possessed a certain knowledge of English, for as the last words passed George’s lips the terrified ecclesiastic quavered: “Prisoners, señor?
— from The Cruise of the Nonsuch Buccaneer by Harry Collingwood

There are also secret passages and compartments known only to five individuals now alive."
— from The Banished: A Swabian Historical Tale by Wilhelm Hauff

She pressed a chaste kiss on his forehead.
— from The Bail Jumper by Robert J. C. Stead