Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Possibilité, -itie, n. Also: pos- and -ibilitee, -ibilietie; -ibylyté, -ibillité, -ibilleté; -ybilyté, -ybylyté; -abillitté; -ebilité; possibilté. [ME and e.m.E. possibilite(e (Chaucer), -ie, -y, e.m.E. also posabilete, F. possibilité (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. possibilitās, f. possibilis Possibil(l.] Possibility, in the usual senses.

1. The state, condition or fact of being possible; capability of being or being done. c1420 Wynt. vi 2324.
Les lykly thyng suth mycht be Demyd be possybylyte 1490 Irland Mir. I 64/20.
And … in that state the man was inmortale be possibilite Ib. II 139/8.
This proposicioun … is contingent … For the verite of it dependis of the thing to cum at be possibilite may neuir cum 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I 92.
Last submissing this forms sequisatioune and present posibilitie to ȝour maist excellant majesty

2. The fact of something being possible to one, by virtue of one's own powers or of favourable circumstances: capability, capacity, power, ability, means.(1) 1375 Barb. iv 572.
Gif he saw it wes sway That thai had possibilite To manteme were in that cuntre a1400 Leg. S. xi 117.
Had I … gaynand possibilite … Thai suld al de 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 264.
That thaj wer nocht of possibilitie to detene it fra thair saids aduersaris(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 685.
Eftyr my possybilyte, Dere sone, I sal helpe thé 1456 Hay I 274/6.
[The laws] schapis thame … to lesse all expens and travailis of parties efter the possibilitee of law 1519 Bk. Carlaverock II 458.
All … seruece … efter my possebilite — 1557 Facs. Nat. MSS. III xl.
And sall lawboure, at oure possibilitie, to haif faithfull ministeres 1578 Reg. Privy C. II 697.
Repres the authouris of ony sic thing at the uttirmest of our possibilitie(3) c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 66.
For all honest det sulde be Qwyt wyth possibylyte 1496 Misc. Spald. C. V 33.
For the quhilkis he sall with all diligence, possibilite and besines … instruk all barnis under his cair a1578 Pitsc. II 287/17.
The towne of Dundie send to … vthir townis of Fyffe to be at thame with all possibilitie 1596 Dalr. I 266/8.
Quha in thir clostiris war … sulde studie to lettres … with all possibilitie(4) 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 134.
The hale cuntreth off this west wardanry off Ingland … is daly makin wyth all expedition alle bere breid and furnissing that is in thair possibilte 1549 Compl. 137/22.
And the remeid of thy afflictione lyis nocht in my possibilite 1552 Reg. Privy C. I 133.
To do thairfor … all that lay in our possibilliteis 1565 Ib. 408.
All … amendiment … that lyis in thair possibilitie 1566 Peebles B. Rec. I 303.
Possabillitte 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II 127.
And present thame … gif it stand in thair possibiliteis 1574 Reg. Morton I 79.
Gif it had bene in my possibilitie, ȝe suld haue haid it a1578 Pitsc. I 290/1.
Sa far as lay in his powar or possibilietie 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 593. 1590 Dundee B. Laws 513.
Doing thairby that lyis in thair possibilleteis to drawe the samyn to thair wtilletie [etc.] 1601 Breadalbane Lett. 6 Aug.
My lord … will leif nathing wndon that lyes in his possibilitie for ȝour releiff(5) 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 89.
To do his utir possibilitie for obtenying of the samyn

b. Of a fortress: ? Military capacity, power, security. 1494 Loutfut MS. 6 a.
The capitanis war ordinit … to keip the fortrassis … and … provid & do swa that the said place remane in ferm & stable possibilite