possible

[Fr., from Lat. po ibilis, from po um to be able, from pot is able, and sum =to be; Sp. posible; Ital. po ibile.] 1. That may or can happen, be, or exist; that may be done; not contrary to the nature of things; liable to happen or come to pa . "'Tis po ible to infinite power to endue a creature with the power of beginning motion."-Clarke: On the Attri butes , prop. 10. Po ible signifies properly able to be done, prac ticable signifies able to put in practice ; hence the difference between po ible and practicable is the same as between doing a thing at all, or doing it as a rule. 2. Capable of being, existing, or coming to pa , but highly improbable. If po ible : If it can po ibly be done. "And expiate, if po ible , my crime." Milton: Samson Agonistes , 491. pos-si-blý, adv .: [Eng. po ib ( le ); -ly .] 1. In a po ible manner; by any po ible means; by any power or means, moral or physical, really existing; by any po ibility. "When po ibly I can, I will return." Shakesp.: Two Gentlemen of Verona , ii. 2. 2. Perchance, perhaps. pos-sum, s . [See def.] A colloquial abbreviation of opo um (q. v.). ( U.S. ) To act po um, to play po um: To feign, to 2. Roman: That part of the ma which follows post-di eizin, s. Old Eng. Law : A subsequent di eizin; also a writ that lay for him who, having recovered lands or tenements by force of novel di eizin, was again di eized by the former di eizor. IMG:content-1380.png:[blocks in formation] 1. Book - keeping : An additional or subsequent entry. 2. Comm.: An additional entry of goods made by a merchant at a custom-house, when the first entry is found to be too small. post-exilic, a . Pertaining to, occurring in, or connected with the period in Jewish history subsequent to the Babylonian captivity. "It could be further shown that a number of Hebrew are of Babylonian origin." post- exilic names Athenœum, May 12, 1883, p. 602. †post-exist, v . i . To exist after; to live subse quently. (Cudworth: Intell . System, p. 37.) †post-existence, s . Future or subsequent exist ence. "That one opinion of the soul's immortality, namely, its post - existence ."-Cudworth: Intell. System , p. 38. †post-existent, a. Existing or being after or subsequently. "Pre and post - existent atoms."-Cudworth: Intell. Sys tem , p. 35. post-fact, s. & a. [Lat. post factum =done afterward.] A. As subst.: A fact which occurs after or subsequently to another. B. As adj .: Pertaining or relating to a fact subsequent to another. post-facto, phr. [Ex POST FACTO.] *post-ferment, s . (Formed on analogy of pre ferment .] The opposite of preferment; a step downward in rank. "This his translation was a post- ferment ." -Fuller : Worthies , i. 329.