1. The quality or state of being possible; the power of happening, being, or existing. "All possibility of error." Hooker. "Latent possibilities of excellence." Johnson.
2. That which is possible; a contingency; a thing or event that may not happen; a contingent interest, as in real or personal estate. South. Burrill.
POSSIBLE
Pos"si*ble, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. possibilis, fr. posse to be able, to
have power; potis able, capable + esse to be. See Potent, Am, and cf.
Host a landlord.]
Defn: Capable of existing or occurring, or of being conceived or thought of; able to happen; capable of being done; not contrary to the nature of things; — sometimes used to express extreme improbability; barely able to be, or to come to pass; as, possibly he is honest, as it is possible that Judas meant no wrong. With God all things are possible. Matt. xix. 26.
Syn.
— Practicable; likely. See Practicable.
POSSIBLY
Pos"si*bly, adv.
Defn: In a possible manner; by possible means; especially, by extreme, remote, or improbable intervention, change, or exercise of power; by a chance; perhaps; as, possibly he may recover. Can we . . . possibly his love desert Milton. When possibly I can, I will return. Shak.
POSSUM
Pos"sum, n. Etym: [Shortened from opossum.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An opossum. [Colloq. U. S.] To play possum, To act possum, to feign ignorance, indifference or inattention, with the intent to deceive; to dissemble; — in allusion to the habit of the opossum, which feigns death when attacked or alarmed.
POST- Post-. Etym: [L. post behind, after; cf. Skr. paçcabehind, afterwards.]