what if…
pos•si•bil•i•ty \ˌpä-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ n, pl -ties (14c) 1 : the condition or fact of being possible 2 archaic : one’s utmost power, capacity, or ability 3 : something that is possible 4 : potential or prospective value – usu. used in pl. < the house had great possibilities >
pos•si•ble \ˈpä-sə-ˈbəl\ adj [ME, fr. AF, fr. L possibilis, fr. posse to be able, fr. potis, pote able + esse to be – more at POTENT, IS] (14c) 1 a : being within the limits of ability, capacity, or realization < a ~ but difficult task > b : being what may be conceived, be done, or occur according to nature, custom, or manners < the best ~ care > < the worst ~ circumstance > 2 a : being something that may or may not occur < a ~ surprise visit > b : being something that may or may not be true or actual < ~ explanation > 3 : having an indicated potential < a ~ housing site >
pos•si•bly \-blē\ adv (14c) 1 : in a possible manner: by any possibility < that’s all she could ~ do > 2 : by merest chance: PERHAPS < ~ he will recover > 3 : it is possible or imagine-able : CONCEIVABLY < a political libel which may ~ damage me – G.B. Shaw >
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)
so what?
prob•a•bil•i•ty \ˌprä-bə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ n, pl -ties (15c) 1 : the quality or state of being probable 2 : something (as an event or circumstance) that is probable 3 a (1) : the ratio of the number of outcomes in an exhaustive set of equally likely outcomes that produce a given event to the total number of possible outcomes (2) : the chance that a given event will occur b : a branch of mathematics concerned with the study of probabilities 4 : a logical relation between statements such that evidence confirming one confirms the other to some degree
prob•a•ble \ˈprä-bə-bəl, ˈprä(b)-bəl\ adj [ME, fr. L probabilis commendable, probable, fr. probare to test, approve, prove — more at PROVE] (1606) 1 : supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof < a ~ hypothesis > 2 : establishing a probability < ~ evidence > 3 : likely to be or become true < ~ outcome >
prob•a•bly \ˈprä-bə-blē, ˈprä(b)-blē\ adv (1613) : insofar as seems reasonably true, factual, or to be expected : without much doubt < is ~ happy > < it will ~ rain >
(Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition)
