possibility
(pɒsɪˈbɪlɪtɪ)
Also 4–6 with y for i, and -e, -ee, -ie for -y; (6 posabilete).
[a. F. possibilité (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. possibilitās, f. possibilis possible: see -ity.]
1. a. The state, condition, or fact of being possible; capability of being done, happening, or existing (in general, or under particular conditions).
by any possibility (formerly † by possibility): in any possible way, by any existing means, possibly; so by no possibility. † of possibility (quot. c 1374): characterized by possibility, possible.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 399 (448) That kan I deme of possibilite. c 1386 ― Frankl. T. 615 Ffor wende I neuere by possibilitee That swich a Monstre or merueille myghte be. 1387–8 T. Usk Test. Love iii. iii. (Skeat) l. 112 But now thou seest..the possibilite of thilke that thou wendest had been impossible. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xi. (Percy Soc.) 39 That the comon wyt, by possibilitie, Maye well a judge the perfyt veritie Of theyr sentence. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. iv. §3 That high perfection of blisse, wherein now the elect Angels are without possibilitie of falling. 1641 Wilkins Math. Magick i. xiv. (1648) 94 To understand that assertion of Archimedes concerning the possibility of moving the world. 1709 Atterbury Serm., Luke x. 32 (1726) II. 231 Shall we be discouraged from any Attempt of doing good, by the Possibility of our failing in it? 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) V. 401 These continuances, therefore, take away all presumption and possibility that the judgment was given on the first day of the term. 1884 F. Temple Relat. Relig. & Sc. vii. (1885) 193 Science and Revelation come into..collision on the possibility of miracles. Mod. If I could by any possibility manage to do it, I would. |
b. in possibility: (a) not actually existing, but that may come to exist; potential: = in posse; (b) in relation to something possible but not actual; potentially. (See also 3 b.)
| 1587 Golding De Mornay iv. (1592) 45 As for God, he is not a thing in possibilitie (which is an vnperfect being) but altogether actuallie and in verie deed. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 191 ¶9 We are apt to rely upon future Prospects, and become really expensive while..only rich in Possibility. |
c. after possibility (Law): ellipt. for after possibility of issue is extinct, i.e. when there is no longer any possibility of issue.
| [c 1350 Rolls of Parlt. II. 401/2 Dount possibilite de issue entre eux est esteinte, Maud ad fait wast, exil, vente e destruction. 1544 tr. Littleton's Tenures (1574) 7 b, He..is tenaunt in the tayle after possibilitie of issue extinct.] 1596 Bacon Max. & Use Com. Law i. xxi, If tenant after possibility make a lease for yeares, and the donor confirmes to the lessee to hold without impeachment of waste. |
d. The quality or character of representing or relating to something that is possible.
| 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 63 In the phantasies of Painters, nothing is so commendable as that there is both possibilitie and truth in them. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey ii. xvi, To consult on the possibility of certain views,..and the expediency of their adoption. 1890 Rayner Chess Problems 5 The chief requisites of a problem are possibility and soundness... A possible position can be reached by a legal series of moves as in a game. |
e. Math. The condition of being a possible or real quantity.
| 1673 Collins in Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men (1841) II. 555 About the constitution of incomplete equations, it is easy to observe that many of the roots lose their possibility. |
2. An instance of the fact or condition described in 1; a possible thing or circumstance; something that may exist or happen. (Usually with a, or in pl.; in pl. sometimes nearly = capabilities: cf. 3.)
| c 1400 Beryn 3544, I can nat wete howe To stop all the ffressh watir wer possibilite. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. iii. i. 215 Oh brother speake with possibilities, And do not breake into these deepe extreames. 1699 Bentley Phal. 100 Our Examiner can give you a view of it in the Region of Possibilities. 1712 Budgell Spect. No. 539 ¶2 There is a Possibility this Delay may be as painful to her as it is to me. 1790 Paley Horæ Paul. Rom. i. 10 This is spoken of rather as a possibility, than as any settled intention. 1865 Trollope Belton Est. v. 48 Her clearer intellect saw possibilities which did not occur to him. 1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spir. W. iii. (1884) 100 Three possibilities of life..are open to all living organisms—Balance, Evolution, and Degeneration. |
† 3. a. Regarded or stated as an attribute of the agent: The fact of something (expressed or implied) being possible to one, in virtue either of favourable circumstances or of one's own powers; hence, Capacity, capability, power, ability; pecuniary ability, means. (In quot. 1591, Possibility or chance of having something: cf. b.) Obs. (or merged in 1).
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Machor) 685 Eftyr my possybilyte, Dere sone, I sal helpe þe. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. xxix. 99 Þou shalt þan fruisshe abundance of pes after þe possibilite of þi duellyng place. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 82 Liberalite is to yeue to nedi peple..aftir the possibilite of the yeuer. 1544 Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 249 Consider his qualeties, his living, his posabilete, and confer al together. a 1550 Hye Way to Spyttel Hous 633 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 53 Yong brethren of small possybylyte, Not hauyng wherwith to mayntene such degre. 1552 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 133 We..offerit us to do thairfor..all that lay in our possibilliteis. 1579–80 North Plutarch (1676) 75 He that maketh Laws, must have regard to the common possibility of men. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. iv. 146 Ile rather keepe That which I haue, then coueting for more Be cast from possibility of all. 1597 ― 2 Hen. IV, iv. iii. 39, I haue speeded hither with the very extremest ynch of possibilitie. 1648 Gage West Ind. x. (1655) 33 We could not, although we proved all our possibility by night and day. 1790 Paley Horæ Paul. Rom. i. 11 An instance of conformity beyond the possibility..of random writing to produce. 1815 Zeluca III. 78 An object who interfered with her wishes, to a degree it was not in her possibility for any other Creature to approach to. |
† b. in possibility (later, in a possibility): in such a position that something (expressed or implied) is possible to or for one; having a prospect, expectation, or chance (of or to do something).
| 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. 794 Duke Aubert had nat bene in trewe possession of Heynalt, but in possibylite therof. 1591 Harington Orl. Fur. Pref. ¶viij b, I be in such faire possibilitie to be thought a foole, or fantasticall for my labour. 1605 Chapman All Fooles Wks. 1873 I. 182 That they who are alreadie in possession of it, may beare their heades aloft..and they that are but in possibilitie, may be rauisht with a desire to be in possession. 1605 Play Stucley 307 in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) I. 170, I am in possibility To marry Alderman Curtises daughter. 1682 Dryden Relig. Laici Pref., Heathens who never did..hear of the name of Christ, were yet in a possibility of salvation. |
† c. sing. and pl. Pecuniary prospects. Obs.
| 1592 Greene Upst. Courtier D iij, A yoong gentleman of faire liuing, in issue of good parents or assured possibilitie. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. i. i. 65 Slen. I know the young Gentlewoman, she has good gifts. Euan. Seuen hundred pounds, and possibilities, is goot gifts. 1637 Heywood Royall King ii. iii. (1874 VI. 25) You know I am my Fathers heire, My possibilities may raise his hopes To their first height. |
4. Special Comb.: possibility theorem = impossibility theorem.
| 1950 [see impossibility theorem]. 1961 J. Rothenberg Measurement of Social Welfare ii. 24 We shall give a sketch of Arrow's proof of the General Possibility Theorem. 1964 C. E. Ferguson Macroecon. Theory of Workable Competition i. 10 (heading) The possibility theorem and rigorous proof of the competitive optimum. |