Contextualizebeta

possible

adj
/ˈpɒs.ə.bəl/UK/ˈpɒs.ɪ.bl̩//ˈpɑ.sə.bəl/US/ˈpɒs.ə.bəl/CA

Etymology

From Middle English possible, from Old French possible, from Latin possibilis (“possible”), from posse, possum (“to be able”); see power. Displaced Middle English acumendlic (“possible”), from Old English ācumendlīċ (“possible”). Compare also Old English mihtelīċ (“strong, capable, powerful, possible”), which was cognate with Old High German mahtlīh (“possible”) and Old Norse máttulígr (“mighty, possible”). Compare also Dutch mogelijk (“possible”) and German möglich (“possible”).

  1. derived from possibilis
  2. derived from possible
  3. inherited from possible

Definitions

  1. Able but not certain to happen

    Able but not certain to happen; neither inevitable nor impossible.

    • Rain tomorrow is possible, but I wouldn't bet on it.
    • It's not just possible, it's probable that there will be rain tomorrow.

  2. Capable of being done or achieved

    Capable of being done or achieved; feasible.

    • It's possible for anyone to learn to play the bagpipes.
    • And success in minor degree, in the sense in which he uses the term "success," is only somewhat more possible than success in winning the White House chair.
    • Peace between Israel and the Arab countries is "more possible than any time before," says ex-Arab League U.N. ambassador Clovis Maskoud.

  3. Being considered, e.g. for a position.

    • Jones and Smith are both possible for the opening in sales.
  4. ›+ 4 more definitions

    1. Apparently valid, likely, plausible.

    2. A possible choice, notably someone being considered for a position.

      • Jones is a possible for the new opening in sales.

    3. That which is possible for somebody.

      • […] “don’t you be in any great hurry after that treasure.” “Why, sir, I do my possible, which that ain’t,” said Silver. “I can only, asking your pardon, save my life and the boy’s by seeking for that treasure; and you may lay to that.”

    4. A particular event that may happen.

The neighborhood

Derived

anything is possible, art of the possible, ASAP, as much as possible, as quickly as possible, as soon as possible, compossible, counterpossible, humanly possible, if possible, nonpossible, possibilist, possibleness, possible world, possibly, unpossible

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for possible. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA