impossible
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
- inpossible (obsolete)
Etymology [edit]
From French impossible, from Latin impossibilis, from in- (“not”) + possibilis (“possible”), from possum (“to be able”) + suffix -ibilis (“-able”).
Pronunciation [edit]
Adjective [edit]
impossible (comparative more impossible, superlative most impossible)
- Not possible, not able to be done.
- Nothing is impossible, only impassible. — Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
- It is difficult, if not impossible, to memorise 20,000 consecutive numbers.
- (colloquial, of a person) Very difficult to deal with.
- You never listen to a word I say – you're impossible!
Synonyms [edit]
- unpossible (rare)
Antonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Translations [edit]
not possible
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very difficult to deal with
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Noun [edit]
impossible (plural impossibles)
- an impossibility
- Late 14th century: “Madame,” quod he, “this were an impossible!” — Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Franklin's Tale’, Canterbury Tales
- (uncountable) (with definite article) that which seems impossible
- If we work together, we can achieve the impossible!
Translations [edit]
an impossibility
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Statistics [edit]
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Most common English words before 1923: battle · bound · York · #738: impossible · greatest · property · started
Catalan [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Latin impossibilis, equivalent to in- + possible.
Adjective [edit]
impossible m, f (masculine and feminine plural impossibles)
French [edit]
Pronunciation [edit]
Adjective [edit]
impossible (masculine and feminine, plural impossibles)
Middle French [edit]
Adjective [edit]
impossible m and f (plural impossibles)
