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possible

Etymology and origin of the French word possible

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1265, Brunetto Latini, Trésor
Borrowed from
Latin possibilis
Ultimate origin
Latin (possum)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin potis
Latin possum
Latin possibilis
English possible
French possible
Latin impossibilis
English impossible

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pɔ.sibl/[1]

Forms

possible (plural possibles)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin possibilis (“possible”), a word of Imperial Latin derived from posse (“to be able”).[2][3][4][5][1] “Possibilis” and “impossibilis” were coined to render Ancient Greek δυνατός (dunatós) and “adúnatos”.[3] “Posse” arose from the phrase “potis esse” “to be able”.[3]

Compare Occitan possible, Spanish posible, Portuguese possível and Italian possibile.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1265 in Brunetto Latini's Trésor, meaning “that can be done, that can happen”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The noun le possible appears about 1495 (faire le possible), and au possible “extremely” in Amyot (1559).[2] A Middle French sense “powerful” died out.[3] Possible est (about 1520) gave way to the impersonal est-il possible que… (before 1654) and ce n'est pas possible (1690), and elliptically to possible as an answer (1869) and the exclamation pas possible ! (1790).[3][7][8] As an adverb, “perhaps”, it is in Bonaventure des Périers (1558); the Académie called it old in 1762, but it survives regionally.[2][6]

Timeline

  • c. 1265 – In Brunetto Latini's Trésor.[2]
  • c. 1495 – The noun: faire le possible.[2]
  • 1558 – The adverb “perhaps”.[2]
  • 1559 – Au possible in Amyot.[2]
  • 1690 – Ce n'est pas possible, in Furetière.[7]
  • 1790 – Pas possible !.[8]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. possible, that can be or be done: c'est possible, si possible.[9][7]
  2. Potential, conceivable: tous les cas possibles.[7]
  3. (after a superlative, invariable) As… as possible: le plus vite possible.[6]
  4. (familiar) Acceptable, bearable: un type pas possible.[7]

Noun

  1. What can be done: faire tout son possible, au possible: extremely.[6][1]

Adverb

  1. (archaic, regional) Perhaps.[1][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 238b
  6. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c d e Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  9. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Possible.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/possible. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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