English
impossible
Impossible comes from Latin impossibilis, from in- ‘not’ + possibilis ‘possible’, from possum ‘to be able’, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pótis ‘master’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pótis‘master, ruler’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*potis‘master; able’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*possomreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpossum‘to be able to’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpossibilis‘possible’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimpossibilis‘impossible’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400impossible
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘not able to be done’
- Englishearliest quotation 1610–1611same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pótis‘master, ruler’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*potis‘master; able’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*possomreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpossum‘to be able to’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpossibilis‘possible’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimpossibilis‘impossible’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400impossible
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘not able to be done’
- Englishearliest quotation 1610–1611same form
Earliest quotation: 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, The Tempest: “Antonio: What impossible matter will he make easy next?…”
Proto-Italic *possom
Latin possum ‘to be able’
Latin possibilis ‘possible’
Old French possible
Middle English possible
English possible
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pótis ‘master, ruler’
through Proto-Italic *potis ‘master, in control of’
potential, potent, potency, impotence, 3 more
through Proto-Italic *possom
through Latin possum ‘to be able to’
through Latin possibilis ‘possible’
Today it means
adj Not possible; not able to be done or happen.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pótis / impossible