Dictionary

unpossible en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ʌnˈpɒsɪbəl/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English unpossible, equivalent to un- (“not”) + possible.

Meanings

1. (archaic, humorous, nonstandard, sometimes) Impossible.
   • [S]o prodigiouſly various are the works of the Creator, and ſo All-ſufficient is he to perform what to man would ſeem unpoſſible, […] 1665, R[obert] Hooke, “Observ[ation] XXI. Of Moss, and several other small vegetative Substances.”, in Micrographia: Or Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses. […], London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC, page 135:
   • T’is a hard matter therfore to confine them, being they are ſo various and many, and vnpoſſible to apprehend all. 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Concupiscible appetite, as Desires, Ambition”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 1, section 2, member 3, subsection 11, page 150:
   • In the evening we fired a few rackets, which flying in the ayre ſo terrified the poore Salvages, they ſuppoſed nothing vnpoſſible we attempted; […] 1624, Anthony Bagnall, Nathanaell Powell, Anas Todkill, “The Government surrendred to Master Scrivener. What happened the second Voyage in discovering the Bay.”, in Iohn [i.e., John] Smith, The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles: […], London: […] I[ohn] D[awson] and I[ohn] H[aviland] for Michael Sparkes, →OCLC, 3rd booke, page 60:
   • And this is the .vj. moneth to her / which was called barren / foꝛ with god ſhall nothinge be vnpoſſible. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Luke j:[36–37], folio lxxiij, recto:
   • Ralph Wiggum: Me fail English? That's unpossible! 1994, “Lisa on Ice”, in The Simpsons:
   • But the young man Hippomedon making her priuie vnto it, at the firſt ſhe was amaſed withall, and bad him hold his peace if he were wiſe, and not medle in matters vnpoſſible and vnprofitable. 1579, Plutarke of Chæronea [i.e., Plutarch], “Agis and Cleomenes”, in Thomas North, transl., The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romaines, […], London: […] Richard Field, →OCLC, page 851:
   • I think we can all agree that this is unpossible. 2008, David Goldberg, “meeting with HKS”, in Mimecast:

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