possible

possible
possible [päs′ə bəl]
adj.
[OFr < L possibilis < posse, to be able: see POTENT]
1. that can be; capable of existing
2. that can be in the future; that may or may not happen
3.
a) that can be done, known, acquired, selected, used, etc., depending on circumstances [a possible candidate]
b) that can happen or be; potential
4. that may be done; permissible
5. that may be a fact or the truth
6. Informal that can be put up with; tolerable
SYN.- POSSIBLE is used of anything that may exist, occur, be done, etc., depending on circumstances [a possible solution to a problem ]; PRACTICABLE applies to that which can readily be effected under the prevailing conditions or by the means available [a practicable plan ]; FEASIBLE is used of that which is likely to be carried through to a successful conclusion and, hence, connotes the desirability of doing so [a feasible enterprise ]

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • possible — [ pɔsibl ] adj. et n. m. • 1265; lat. imp. possibilis I ♦ Adj. 1 ♦ (Activités, réalités humaines) Qui peut exister, qu on peut faire. ⇒ concevable, envisageable, faisable, réalisable. Nous avons fait tout ce qui est humainement possible pour le… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • possible — Possible. adj. de tout genre. Qui peut estre, ou qui peut se faire. Ce que vous dites est possible. cela est difficile, mais pourtant possible. quelques uns tiennent que la pierre philosophale est possible. les estres possibles. est il possible… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • possible — Possible, Possibilis, Quintil. Autant qu il est possible, Quoad potest. S il t est possible, Siquid poteris. Il n en ira pas ainsi, Il n est pas possible, Non sic futurum est, Non potest. Il n est pas possible de leur aider si facilement, Non tam …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • possible — 1 Possible, practicable, feasible can mean capable of being realized. Possible is used to dispel doubt that something may or does occur or exist or may come to exist {the regime of religious toleration has become possible only because we have… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Possible — Pos si*ble, a. [F., fr. L. possibilis, fr. posse to be able, to have power; potis able, capable + esse to be. See {Potent}, {Am}, and cf. {Host} a landlord.] Capable of existing or occurring, or of being conceived or thought of; able to happen;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • possible — ► ADJECTIVE 1) capable of existing, happening, or being achieved. 2) that may be so, but that is not certain or probable. ► NOUN 1) a possible candidate for a job or member of a team. 2) (the possible) that which is likely or achievable. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • possible — I adjective achievable, anticipated, apt, attainable, believable, capable, cogitable, conceivable, credible, feasible, grantable, imaginable, liable, likely, obtainable, performable, plausible, potential, probable, promising, rational, realizable …   Law dictionary

  • possible — c.1300, from L. possibilis that can be done, from posse be able (see POTENT (Cf. potent)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • possible — [adj] likely, attainable accessible, achievable, adventitious, advisable, available, breeze*, can do*, cinch, conceivable, credible, dependent, desirable, doable, dormant, duck soup*, easy as pie*, expedient, feasible, fortuitous, hopeful,… …   New thesaurus

  • possible — (po si bl ) adj. 1°   Qui peut être, qui peut se faire. Il est possible que cela se fasse. Il est possible de faire cela. •   Est il possible que nous travaillions à la structure et à la cadence d une période, comme s il y allait de notre vie ?,… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

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