possible French · revision 16423

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1265, Brunetto Latini, Trésor|origins=la possum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɔ.sibl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''possible''' (plural possibles)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|possibilis|t=possible]], a word of Imperial Latin derived from [[m|la|possum|alt=posse|t=to be able]].^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|9, 238b)^(Wiktionary) “Possibilis” and “impossibilis” were coined to render [[grc|δυνατός|tr=dunatós]] and “adúnatos”.^(DHLF 1992) “Posse” arose from the phrase “potis esse” “to be able”.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ Compare [[oc|possible]], [[es|posible]], [[pt|possível]] and [[it|possibile]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found about 1265 in Brunetto Latini's ''Trésor'', meaning “that can be done, that can happen”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun ''le possible'' appears about 1495 (''faire le possible''), and ''au possible'' “extremely” in Amyot (1559).^(TLFi) A Middle French sense “powerful” died out.^(DHLF 1992) ''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).^(DHLF 1992)^(GLLF 1989)^(BHVF) As an adverb, “perhaps”, it is in Bonaventure des Périers (1558); the Académie called it old in 1762, but it survives regionally.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1265 – In Brunetto Latini's ''Trésor''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1495 – The noun: ''faire le possible''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1558 – The adverb “perhaps”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1559 – ''Au possible'' in Amyot.^(TLFi)

+ * 1690 – ''Ce n'est pas possible'', in Furetière.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1790 – ''Pas possible !''.^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|possible]], that can be or be done: ''c'est possible'', ''si possible''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # Potential, [[m|en|conceivable]]: ''tous les cas possibles''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ # ''(after a superlative, invariable)'' As… as possible: ''le plus vite possible''.^(Littré 1873)

+ # ''(familiar)'' Acceptable, bearable: ''un type pas possible''.^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # What can be done: ''faire tout son possible'', ''au possible'': extremely.^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(archaic, regional)'' Perhaps.^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[possibilité]]

+ * [[impossible]]

+ * [[pouvoir]]

+ * [[en|possible]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}