“可能存在、发生或被完成”，这个词在14世纪中期出现，源自古法语 possible，直接借自拉丁语 possibilis，意为“可以完成的”，来自 posse，意为“能够”（参见 potent）。
The only kind of object which in strict propriety of language can be called possible is the truth of a proposition ; and when a kind of thing is said to be possible, this is to be regarded as an elliptical expression, meaning that it is of such a general description that we do not know it does not exist. So an event or act is said to be possible, meaning that one would not know that it would not come to pass. But it is incorrect to use possible meaning practicable ; possible is what may be, not what can be. [Century Dictionary]
在严格的语言使用中，唯一可以被称为 possible 的对象是命题的真理；当某种 thing 被称为 possible 时，这应被视为一种省略表达，意思是它的描述过于一般，以至于我们无法确定它是否存在。因此，一个事件或行为被称为 possible，意味着我们无法知道它是否会发生。但将 possible 用来表示 practicable 是不正确的；possible 指的是可能发生的，而不是可以实现的。[世纪词典]
