English Online Dictionary. What means possible? What does possible mean?
English
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”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈpɒ.sɪ.bl̩/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpɑ.sə.bl̩/
- Hyphenation: pos‧si‧ble
Adjective
possible (comparative more possible, superlative most possible)
- (usually not comparable) Able but not certain to happen; neither inevitable nor impossible.
- Synonyms: futurable; see also Thesaurus:possible
- Antonyms: certain, inevitable, impossible
- (comparable) Capable of being done or achieved; feasible.
- Synonyms: achievable, doable, viable
- Antonym: impossible
- Being considered, e.g. for a position.
- Apparently valid, likely, plausible.
- Synonyms: likely, plausible
- Antonym: implausible
Derived terms
Related terms
- possibility
- potent
- potential
- probable
- improbable
- incidental
- contingent
Translations
Noun
possible (plural possibles)
- (colloquial, rare) A possible choice, notably someone being considered for a position.
- Synonym: candidate
- (colloquial, rare) That which is possible for somebody.
- (rare) A particular event that may happen.
Synonyms
- possibility
- option
Antonyms
- impossible
- no-go
Translations
References
Further reading
- “possible”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “possible”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
Anagrams
- bespoils
Catalan
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin possibilis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): (Central, Balearic) [puˈsib.blə]
- IPA(key): (Valencia) [poˈsi.ble]
Adjective
possible m or f (masculine and feminine plural possibles)
- possible
- Antonym: impossible
Derived terms
- possibilitat
- possiblement
Related terms
- impossible
Further reading
- “possible” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin possibilis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pɔ.sibl/
Adjective
possible (plural possibles)
- possible
Adverb
possible
- (archaic) possibly
Related terms
- possibilité
- possiblement
Noun
possible m (plural possibles)
- the possible, feasible, what can be done, achieved etc.
Derived terms
References
- “possible”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.