Etymologically
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possible

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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