impossible French · revision 16508

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1227, Guillaume le Clerc, Besant de Dieu|origins=la possum}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɛ̃.pɔ.sibl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''impossible''' (plural impossibles)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|impossibilis|t=that cannot be or be done, (Late Latin) unable]], formed with the negative prefix [[m|la|in-]] on [[m|la|possibilis|t=possible]] (compare [[possible]]), from [[m|la|possum|t=to be able]].^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(FEW|4, 600a) Wiktionary analyses it within French as “im-” and “possible”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Cognate with [[pro|impossible]], [[es|imposible]], [[pt|impossível]] and [[it|impossibile]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Guillaume le Clerc's ''Besant de Dieu'' (about 1227) ''chose impossible'' is a thing that cannot be or be done.^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Froissart (late 14th century) uses it hyperbolically for “very difficult”: ''lieu impossible pour assiéger''.^(TLFi) ''Il est impossible que'' is found in Amyot (mid-16th century), and ''impossible!'' as an exclamation in 1798.^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi) The noun ''l'impossible'' is in Marot (1553); Montaigne writes of ''la difference entre l'impossible et l'inusité''.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ Later senses are “extravagant” (Beaumarchais, 1784), “unreal, fantastic” (Gautier, 1843), “with no way out” (''situation impossible'', 1862) and, of a person, “unbearable” (Renan, 1857).^(TLFi)^(BHVF) ''Impossible n'est pas français'' is a proverb.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1227 – ''Chose impossible'', ''Besant de Dieu''.^(TLFi)

+ * Late 14th century – “Very difficult”, Froissart.^(TLFi)

+ * 1553 – ''L'impossible'', Marot.^(TLFi)

+ * 1784 – “Extravagant”, Beaumarchais.^(TLFi)

+ * 1798 – ''Impossible!''^(TLFi)

+ * 1857 – Of a person, “unbearable”, Renan.^(TLFi)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|impossible]]: that cannot be, happen or be done: ''c'est impossible'', ''impossible à dire'', ''il est impossible que''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Very difficult; absurd, extravagant: ''un nom impossible'', ''à des heures impossibles''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+ # (of a person) [[m|en|unbearable]]: ''un enfant impossible''.^(Wiktionary)^(TLFi)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''L'impossible'': the impossible: ''faire l'impossible'', to do one's utmost.^(Wiktionary)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[impossiblement]]

+ * [[impossibilité]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[possible]]

+ * [[pouvoir]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Impossible n'est pas français'' (“there is no such word as impossible”) and ''à cœur vaillant rien d'impossible'' are proverbs.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}