möglich German · revision 34825

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=13th century|origins=gem-pro *maganą}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈmøːklɪç/, [ˈmøːklɪç]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''möglich''' (strong nominative masculine singular möglicher, not comparable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|gmh|müglich]], also [[m|gmh|mügelich]], formed [[af|de|mögen|-lich]] in the old sense of the verb, “to be able”.^(Kluge 2011|630)^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary) Kluge compares the way the phrases for “it can be” and “it is possible” match.^(Kluge 2011|630) The Grimms' dictionary derived it rather from an old feminine noun meaning “power, ability”, so that it first meant “according to one's power”; it found no Old High German form.^(DWB|12, 2464) The same formation is [[gml|mogelik]] and [[dum|moghelick]], whence [[nl|mogelijk]].^(DWB|12, 2464)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The word is recorded from the 13th century.^(Kluge 2011|630)^(Wiktionary DE) The Middle High German adverb ''mügelīche'' “possibly, deservedly, according to one's means” is found in the Laubach ''Barlaam'' before 1200.^(Köbler MHD) Middle High German ''müg(e)lich'' meant “what can happen”, but also “what is right and fitting, proper”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Wiktionary DE)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle High German, Middle Low German and Middle Dutch alike the word also meant “just, fair, proper”, a sense that the Bremen dictionary still recorded for Low German in the 18th century.^(DWB|12, 2464) The Early New High German dictionary lists the senses “within one's power, feasible”, “conceivable”, “lawful” and “fitting”.^(FWB) Standard German kept only “feasible” and “conceivable”; the Grimms suspected from the use of ''Möglichkeit'' that in the 17th century it could still be said of persons, “powerful, wealthy”.^(DWB|12, 2464)

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+ The abstract noun [[Möglichkeit]], Middle High German ''mügelicheit'', at first meant “ability, opportunity”.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2020|561) In colloquial German ''alles Mögliche'' has come to mean “all sorts of things”.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * Before 1200 – The adverb ''mügelīche'' is used in the Laubach ''Barlaam''.^(Köbler MHD)

+ * 13th century – The adjective is recorded.^(Kluge 2011|630)

+ * 18th century – Low German ''mögelik'' still means “fair, permitted”.^(DWB|12, 2464)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|possible]], that can be done or achieved: ''es war nicht möglich, den Zug zu erreichen''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Conceivable, [[m|en|potential]]: ''ein möglicher Käufer''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' In ''alles Mögliche'': all sorts of things, a great many things.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Möglichkeit]]

+ * [[möglichst]]

+ * [[möglicherweise]]

+ * [[unmöglich]]

+ * [[ermöglichen]]

+ * [[womöglich]]

+ * [[bestmöglich]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vermögen]]

+ * [[Macht]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''So bald wie möglich'' “as soon as possible” and ''sein Möglichstes tun'' “to do one's utmost” are common phrases.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}