possible English · revision 3624

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1350|origins=la posse}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpɒs.ə.bᵊl/, US /ˈpɑː.sə.bᵊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|possybil]], [[bor|fro|possible]] and directly [[bor|la|possibilis|t=that can be done]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|posse|t=to be able]] and the suffix [[m|la|-ibilis]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) itself from [[m|la|potis|t=able]] and [[m|la|esse|t=to be]].^(MW Collegiate) Barnhart notes that ''possibilis'' was coined by scholars in the 1st century AD to translate Greek [[m|grc|δυνατός|tr=dunatós|t=possible]].^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[potent]] and [[possess]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ That may be, that can exist or be done: probably between 1350 and 1375,^(Barnhart 1988) or the mid-14th century according to Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Possibility'' is from about 1385, in Chaucer,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''possibly'' from about 1400.^(Barnhart 1988) From 1488 to 1692 ''possible'' could mean “the greatest possible”,^(HTOED) and the sense “that may be true, conceivable” is recorded from 1582.^(HTOED) The noun, “that which may happen”, is from the 1640s.^(Etymonline) The Century Dictionary insisted that ''possible'' means what may be, not what can be done, and that it should not be used for ''practicable''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – possible.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1385 – ''possibility'' (Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – ''possibly''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1582 – that may be true.^(HTOED)

+ * 1640s – noun.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Able to happen, exist or be true without contradicting known facts or laws.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Able to be done; within one's power.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Capable of good development; [[potential]].^(AHD)

+ # Of uncertain likelihood: ''a possible risk''.^(AHD)^(HTOED)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that is possible; a potential candidate or choice.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[possibly]]

+ * [[compossible]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[possibility]]

+ * [[potent]]

+ * [[potential]]

+ * [[probable]]

+ * [[improbable]]

+ * [[incidental]]

+ * [[contingent]]

+ * [[possess]]

+ * [[impossible]]

+ * [[feasible]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary contrasts ''possible'' with ''workable'', ''practicable'', ''feasible'' and ''viable'': ''possible'' says only that something may happen, exist or be done.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}