possibile Italian · revision 37775

21 Oct 2026, 19:31 by bogdan “it75d b07: Italian entries” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1293–1294, Dante|origins=la possum}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * /posˈsi.bi.le/^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''possibile''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural possibili, superlative possibilissimo)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|la|possibilis]], a learned word, from [[m|la|possum|t=to be able]] with the suffix [[m|la|-bilis]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(OLD 2012) Nocentini and DEI say that Quintilian coined the adjective in the 1st century AD, together with its opposite [[m|la|impossibilis]], to render [[grc|δυνατός|tr=dynatós]] and [[m|grc|ἀδύνατος|tr=adýnatos]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3036) The same Latin word gave [[fr|possible]], recorded from the 14th century, and [[es|posible]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3036)
+ 
+ Old Italian also had the form [[roa-oit|possevole]], and GDLI lists further old variants such as [[roa-oit|possibele]].^(DEI|3036)^(GDLI)^(Wiktionary) The noun [[possibilità]] comes from [[la-lat|possibilitas]], found in the Vulgate and Arnobius, and [[possibilista]] from [[fr|possibiliste]], the name of a branch of French socialism founded by Paul Brousse in 1881.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3036)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ DELI's first record is in Dante, 1293–1294, with the sense “that can be or happen”;^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) GRADIT dates the word to 1292.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) As a noun, “what can be or happen, what can be done”, it is recorded before 1294 in Brunetto Latini.^(DELI 1999)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ In scholastic philosophy the ''possibile intelletto'' was the intellect in potency;^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GRADIT 2003) Dante's ''Purgatorio'' speaks of a doctrine that “fe' disgiunto / dall'anima il possibile intelletto” (separated the possible intellect from the soul), and Guido Cavalcanti uses the same phrase.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(GRADIT 2003)
+ 
+ ''Possibilità'' is recorded for “capacity, power” before 1347 (Bartolomeo da San Concordio), in the plural for “means” in 1353 (Boccaccio), and for “the quality of being possible” before 1565 (Benedetto Varchi).^(DELI 1999) Antonio Labriola used ''possibilista'' in 1890 and ''possibilismo'' in 1891, for a politics that seeks attainable reforms rather than utopia.^(DELI 1999)
+ 
+ In modern Italian the adjective often stands alone, as an exclamation of disbelief or a cautious answer, and it reinforces comparatives and superlatives (''il più presto possibile'').^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Colloquially it can mean “acceptable, passable”.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1293–1294 – Dante uses ''possibile'' “that can be or happen”.^(DELI 1999)
+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses the noun ''il possibile''.^(DELI 1999)
+ * Before 1347 – ''Possibilità'' “capacity” is recorded.^(DELI 1999)
+ * 1353 – Boccaccio uses ''possibilità'' in the plural for “means”.^(DELI 1999)
+ * Before 1565 – Benedetto Varchi uses ''possibilità'' for “the quality of being possible”.^(DELI 1999)
+ * 1890–1891 – Antonio Labriola uses ''possibilista'' and ''possibilismo''.^(DELI 1999)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adjective===
+ # That can happen or exist, [[m|en|possible]]; impersonal ''è possibile che'' with the subjunctive: ''È possibile che stasera nevichi.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)
+ # In questions and exclamations, expressing surprise, disbelief or annoyance; in answers, “perhaps”: ''Possibile che nessuno abbia sentito niente?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)
+ # That can be true, not self-contradictory: ''una ricostruzione possibile dei fatti''.^(GRADIT 2003)
+ # That can be done, [[m|en|feasible]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)
+ # Reinforcing a comparative or superlative: ''il prima possibile'', “as soon as possible”.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)
+ # ''(colloquial)'' Acceptable, [[m|en|passable]].^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)
+ 
+ ===Noun===
+ # What can be or can be done: ''fare tutto il possibile'', ''nei limiti del possibile''.^(Treccani 2011)^(Gabrielli 2020)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[possibilità]]
+ * [[possibilmente]]
+ * [[impossibile]]
+ * [[possibilismo]]
+ * [[possibilista]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[potere]]
+ * [[la|possibilis]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}