possibilité

Forms

possibilité f (plural possibilités)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Late Latin possibilitās (“power, possibility”), a derivative of possibilis (“possible”).^[2][3][4] The TLFi dates the borrowing to Jean de Meun (1275–1280), the Robert dictionaries to 1265,^[2][4][5] and the GLLF finds it in the sense of a means of doing something as early as about 1212.^[6]

Cognate with Old Occitan possibilitat, Spanish posibilidad and Italian possibilità.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Roman de la Rose it means the quality of being possible, and in the plural the things that may happen.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

Beside the abstract sense, the word kept a trace of the older meaning “power, strength” in the weaker sense “means or ability to do something” (1326, selon lour possibilité “as far as they can”).^[2][3] In forestry, from 1388, it named the amount of wood that may be cut from a forest without harming its yield.^[2][7] The plural possibilités also came to mean the means at one's disposal, or what can be expected of someone.^[3]

Timeline

• 1275–1280 – Jean de Meun uses it in the Roman de la Rose.^[2]
• 1326 – First found in the sense “means of doing something”.^[2]
• 1388 – A royal ordinance on waters and forests uses it of a forest's allowable cut.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. The quality of being possible, possibility: la possibilité d'une grève.^[5][2]
2. A possible thing or case, an option: il reste deux possibilités.^[5]
3. The means, ability or opportunity to do something: avoir la possibilité de voyager.^[5][6]
4. (in the plural) One's means or capabilities.^[3]
5. (forestry) The amount of timber that may be cut from a forest while keeping its output steady.^[7][2]

Related words

• possible
• impossibilité
• Latin possibilitās

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette