Word Origin Atlas

Exact historical dictionary sense

Impossible in Webster's 1913 dictionary

The 1913 record labels impossible as adjective. Its source-bounded etymology and selected historical definition appear below.

WEBSTER 1913adjective
Impossible

[F., fr. L. impossibilis; pref. im- not + possibilis possible. See Possible.]

Cross-verified historical sense
The source text may be outdated. The page preserves that historical boundary.
Cross-verified 1913 record
Headwordimpossible
Part of speechadjective
Historical etymology[F., fr. L. impossibilis; pref. im- not + possibilis possible. See Possible.]
Selected historical definitionNot possible; incapable of being done, of existing, etc.; unattainable in the nature of things, or by means at command; insuperably difficult under the circumstances; absurd or impracticable; not feasible.
Signed record IDwebster1913-impossible-adjective-03d43f686441
Source locatorCIDE.I, paragraph 2062; Gutenberg eBook 664
Edition-scoped answerNot earliest-attestation proofNot modern consensus
Independent historical textProject Gutenberg section 664Signed structural record sourceGNU GCIDE 0.54 archive
Quick answer

In Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), "impossible" is labeled adjective. Its etymology is recorded as: "[F., fr. L. impossibilis; pref. im- not + possibilis possible. See Possible.]" The selected historical definition says: "Not possible; incapable of being done, of existing, etc.; unattainable in the nature of things, or by means at command; insuperably difficult under the circumstances; absurd or impracticable; not feasible."

Project Gutenberg Webster 1913 plus signed GNU GCIDE 0.54 Exact cross-verified historical record reviewed 2026-10-04

What this answer proves

One named sense in one historical dictionary edition.

The answer reports the selected headword, part of speech, etymology, definition, and source locator as transcribed in the cross-verified 1913 record.

Evidence boundaryIt does not establish the earliest attestation or a complete borrowing chain.It does not claim current scholarly consensus or a modern dictionary definition.Historical dictionary text may be obsolete, incomplete, inaccurate, or offensive by modern standards.

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Webster 1913 exact record

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