possibilis

Possibilis is a Latin adjective meaning “able to be done; possible.” It is formed from the verb posse, “to be able,” combined with the suffix -ibilis, which yields a sense of potentiality or feasibility. In classical and medieval Latin, possibilis describes states, events, or conditions that could obtain under certain circumstances, rather than those that are actual.

In scholarly usage, possibilis appears in philosophical and theological discussions of modality, where it helps distinguish what might be the case from what actually is. The term is often contrasted with other modal notions such as actualis or necessarius in scholastic treatises and commentaries on logic and metaphysics. The related noun possibilitas denotes possibility or potentiality, while the verb posse denotes ability or possibility in a general sense. Phrases such as res possibilis (“a possible thing”) and eventus possibilis (“a possible event”) illustrate its typical applications.

Beyond philosophy, possibilis also functions as a linguistic and etymological anchor. The adjective’s form and its derivatives influenced the development of many Romance-language words for “possible” (for example, Italian possibile, Spanish posible, French possible, Portuguese possível). In modern scholarly contexts, possibilis is most often encountered in discussions of Latin grammar, philology, or historical philosophy, where precise terminology for modality matters.

Overall, possibilis remains a useful reference point for understanding how Latin conveyed potentiality and feasibility, and it preserves its role in academic study of Latin language and thought.