Etymologically
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möglich

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Pronunciation

  • /ˈmøːklɪç/, [ˈmøːklɪç][1]

Forms

möglich (strong nominative masculine singular möglicher, not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle High German müglich, also mügelich, formed from German mögen + -lich in the old sense of the verb, “to be able”.[2][3][1] Kluge compares the way the phrases for “it can be” and “it is possible” match.[2] The Grimms' dictionary derived it rather from an old feminine noun meaning “power, ability”, so that it first meant “according to one's power”; it found no Old High German form.[4] The same formation is Middle Low German mogelik and Middle Dutch moghelick, whence Dutch mogelijk.[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The word is recorded from the 13th century.[2][5] The Middle High German adverb mügelīche “possibly, deservedly, according to one's means” is found in the Laubach Barlaam before 1200.[6] Middle High German müg(e)lich meant “what can happen”, but also “what is right and fitting, proper”.[3][5]

Semantic evolution

In Middle High German, Middle Low German and Middle Dutch alike the word also meant “just, fair, proper”, a sense that the Bremen dictionary still recorded for Low German in the 18th century.[4] The Early New High German dictionary lists the senses “within one's power, feasible”, “conceivable”, “lawful” and “fitting”.[7] Standard German kept only “feasible” and “conceivable”; the Grimms suspected from the use of Möglichkeit that in the 17th century it could still be said of persons, “powerful, wealthy”.[4]

The abstract noun Möglichkeit, Middle High German mügelicheit, at first meant “ability, opportunity”.[3][8] In colloquial German alles Mögliche has come to mean “all sorts of things”.[9][1]

Timeline

  • Before 1200 – The adverb mügelīche is used in the Laubach Barlaam.[6]
  • 13th century – The adjective is recorded.[2]
  • 18th century – Low German mögelik still means “fair, permitted”.[4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. possible, that can be done or achieved: es war nicht möglich, den Zug zu erreichen.[9][1]
  2. Conceivable, potential: ein möglicher Käufer.[9][1]
  3. (colloquial) In alles Mögliche: all sorts of things, a great many things.[9][1]

Word family

Usage notes

So bald wie möglich “as soon as possible” and sein Möglichstes tun “to do one's utmost” are common phrases.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Kluge, Friedrich; Seebold, Elmar (2011), Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache, 25th ed., Berlin / Boston: De Gruyter, p. 630
  3. ^ a b c Pfeifer, Wolfgang, et al. (1993), Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Deutschen, 2nd ed., Berlin: Akademie-Verlag; digital revised version in the DWDS, dwds.de
  4. ^ a b c d e Grimm, Jacob; Grimm, Wilhelm (1854–1961), Deutsches Wörterbuch, 16 vols. in 32, Leipzig: Hirzel; digital: Wörterbuchnetz, Trier Center for Digital Humanities, p. 12, 2464
  5. ^ a b Wiktionary, das freie Wörterbuch (German Wiktionary), de.wiktionary.org
  6. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2014), Mittelhochdeutsches Wörterbuch, 3rd ed., online, koeblergerhard.de/wikiling
  7. ^ Anderson, Robert R.; Goebel, Ulrich; Reichmann, Oskar, eds. (1989–), Frühneuhochdeutsches Wörterbuch, Berlin / New York: De Gruyter; FWB-online, fwb-online.de
  8. ^ Duden. Das Herkunftswörterbuch: Etymologie der deutschen Sprache (2020), 6th ed., Duden vol. 7, Berlin: Dudenverlag, p. 561
  9. ^ a b c d e Duden. Das große Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache in zehn Bänden (1999), 3rd ed., Mannheim: Dudenverlag