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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Possibil(l, -ible, -abill, adj.¹ (adv.) Also: pos- and -ibille, -ibyl, -ybyl, -ibell; -abyll, -abell, -able; posscopyl. [ME and e.m.E. possibel (Rolle), -ible, -yble, F. possible (OF also posible, 13th c. in Godef. Compl.), L. possibilis that can or may be done, f. posse to be able.] Possible; that may be, that is capable of being, being done or happening.

A. adj.

1. predic. (To be) possible (to, also in, the agent).Also impers. const. noun clause compl. or (active or passive) infin. In later use also in (parenthetical) conditional clauses.(1) 1456 Hay II 91/12.
And it be evill he may sett syk remede as possible is till him a1500 Quare Jel. 125.
In erde suld no thing be Possible to ony wicht of wele willing 1537 Douglas Corr. 352.
For no labor nor solyssyun that is posybyl to me 1552 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale I App. xciii.
Greit skayth [etc.] … and all maner of oppressioun in thame possabill 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7257.
Quhat kinde of way is possibill to me, For to be in ȝone knichtis companie?(2) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 1247.
God, that possible ware to me, That I mycht al tyme folow thé c1490 Irland Asl. MS. 44/9.
And gif it war possible that all thre war togidder [etc.] c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxiv 29.
War it possibill that in ony corce War Salamonis witt [etc.] a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 127/6.
Quhow is it possible that God and mane may be reallye contenit [etc.] Ib. 137/29.(3) 1456 Hay I 122/31.
Gif thare be ony thing pertenand till his lord that may be possible to be done 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 117.
He knew his realme nocht possibill to be conquest 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10026. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 57.
For that utherwise it was not possibill to be obtenit Id. Indict. 40.
Howbeit na thingis ver left vndone that possible wer apperant to fyle the warld(4) c1450-2 Howlat 930 (A).
Ȝit sall I preif ȝow to pleis, sen it is possible 1533 Gau 91/16.
That ve may turnne that to the best alsz far as possibil is to ws 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 48*.
It is nocht possible to it for to induir ony lang tyme 1571 Bann. Memor. 106.
And to do that thing that was possible(5) 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 280.
To thank hir … and gif possible wer to treate mariage betuix [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I 93/8.
Thinkand gif it might be possibill … to draw him fre his attempt 1588 Edinb. Presb. 17 Sept.
Being of mynd & vill gif possible ver, to hawe him fullie resoluit

2. attrib. Also b. all possibill, the greatest possible, the utmost, c., without all, in same sense, (appar. only Sc.).In pre- and post-positional use. 1456 Hay I 72/9 h. of ch.
Quhethir it be thing possible that this warld be in pes Ib. 122/29.
That he sall nocht mak of possible thing inpossible Ib. 75/24. a1500 Quare Jel. 132.
For thing possible, me thing, sche suld nocht pleyne 1566 Anderson Collect. Mary I 36.
And the nobilitie … will leif nathing possibille undoneb. (1) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 189.
He sal hafe our doukat, puttand it til all possibyl profit to the behufe of the abbay 1477 Ib. 209.
He sal put the mylland til al possibil polici 1479 Misc. Bann. C. III 431.
In all possible haist ȝe ma 1507 Oliphants 50.
I sall warn hem thar of be an meid person thar of all gudly posscopyl hast I can 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 141.
Posabyll c 1550 Balcarres P. 315.
Be ȝour graceis sarwand at all posabell power 1566 Facs. Nat. MSS. III lii.
Posibell 1600 Crim. Trials II 186.
I … ran with all possibill diligence throw the streittis, crying [etc.] 1618 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. I 102.
[To] cause lay on his grave ane lair staine … with all possibill diligence(2) 1567 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 557.
In all diligence possibill 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 25.
Thay wald haif procurit be al maner possibill the Quene of Inglandis … support 1570 Leslie 56.
To assailyie all uther meanes possible before … batellc. (1) 1488 Rep. Sir Rob. Menzies MSS. 704.
I sal … lat it at my possable pouer 1492 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 63.
That the haill body of the towne will … defend the sam at their possibill power 1498 Acta Conc. II 253.
[That the said John, Earl of Craufurd] sal do his possible deligence til enter to the custumes [etc.] Ib. 286.
And the sade Andro do nocht his possible deligence to call the sadis witnes 1692 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 433.
[Cooll giving his] possible [assistance](2) 1596 Dalr. II 281/4.
Ilk flies to his awne cuntrie with possable haist(3) 1575 Conv. Burghs I 46.
To mak the provest … to be aduerteist thairof with diligence possibill

B. adv. Possibly. = Possibilly adv. 1572 Facs. Nat. MSS. III lxiii.
To requite yowr lordshippes … in what I possible can do 1533 A. Home in Bell. Livy II 234/14.
And they decried to perfyt … thair buildinges (if possible they could) with the guids of thame quheme [etc.] 1626 Aberd. Council Lett. I 251.
Howsone possibill it can be collectit it salbe send to him 1655 Rothesay B. Rec. 9.
Alse near and justly as possible they can 1661 Black Sc. Witches 44.
Else possible he might have fund him before 1680 Edinb. B. Rec. X 405.
Soe soon as possible he can