Possibles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A concept denoting potential options or outcomes that may occur in the future, often used in planning and decision-making contexts
2. Referring to various feasible alternatives or scenarios that could be considered or evaluated in a situation
3. The state of having multiple avenues or choices available for consideration, especially in strategic discussions and analyses

Etymology: "Possibles" is simply the plural of "possible," used as a noun for the options still open in a situation, as in "let's list the possibles before we decide." The adjective "possible" traces back to Latin "possibilis," meaning "able to be done," built from "posse," "to be able," which is itself a blend of "potis" (capable) and "esse" (to be). That same root sits behind "power," so the idea of possibility and the idea of might have shared a source from the start. The adjective came into English through Old French "possible," which replaced an older Old English word, "ācumendlīċ," that meant much the same thing. That older word was not lost without a trace in other languages, since German "möglich" and Dutch "mogelijk" are close relatives of the Old English term's cousins, though those are not direct descendants of it.

Synonyms: potential candidates, possibilities