Definitions for impossibility
ɪmˌpɒs əˈbɪl ɪ ti, ˌɪm pɒs-im·pos·si·bil·i·ty

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. impossibility, impossiblenessnoun

   incapability of existing or occurring

2. impossibility, impossible actionnoun

   an alternative that is not available

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. impossibilitynoun

   Something that is impossible.

   Meeting the deadline is an impossibility; there is no way we can be ready in time.

2. impossibilitynoun

   The quality of being impossible.

3. Etymology: From impossibilitas.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Impossibilitynoun

   Etymology: impossibilité, Fr. from impossible.

   1. Impracticability; the state of being not feasible.

   Simple Philoclea, it is the impossibility that doth torment me; for unlawful desires are punished after the effect of enjoying, but impossible desires in the desire itself. Philip Sidney.

   Admit all these impossibilities and great absurdities to be possible and convenient. John Whitgift.

   Let the mutinous winds
   Strike the proud cedars 'gainst the firy sun,
   Murdering impossibility, to make
   What cannot be, slight work. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

   They confound difficulty with impossibility. South.

   Those who assert the impossibility of space existing without matter, must make body infinite. John Locke.

   When we see a man of like passions and weakness with ourselves going before us in the paths of duty, it confutes all lazy pretences of impossibility. John Rogers.

   2. That which cannot be done.

   Though men do, without offence, wish daily that the affairs, which with evil success are past, might have fallen out much better; yet to pray that they may have been any other than they are, this being a manifest impossibility in itself, the rules of religion do not permit. Richard Hooker.

   Impossibilities! oh no, there's none,
   Could I bring thy heart captive home. Abraham Cowley.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Impossibility

   In contract law, impossibility is an excuse for the nonperformance of duties under a contract, based on a change in circumstances (or the discovery of preexisting circumstances), the nonoccurrence of which was an underlying assumption of the contract, that makes performance of the contract literally impossible. For example, if Ebenezer contracts to pay Erasmus £100 to paint his house on October 1, but the house burns to the ground before the end of September, Ebenezer is excused from his duty to pay Erasmus the £100, and Erasmus is excused from his duty to paint Ebenezer's house; however, Erasmus may still be able to sue under the theory of unjust enrichment for the value of any benefit he conferred on Ebenezer before his house burned down. The parties to a contract may choose to ignore impossibility by inserting a hell or high water clause, which mandates that payments continue even if completion of the contract becomes physically impossible. In common law, for the defense of "impossibility" to be raised performance must not merely be difficult or unexpectedly costly for one party, there must be no way for it to actually be accomplished; however, it is beginning to be recognized that "impossibility" under this doctrine can also exist when the contemplated performance can be done but only at an excessive and unreasonable cost, i.e., commercial impracticability. On the other hand, some sources see "impossibility" and impracticability as being related but separate defenses. The English case that established the doctrine of impossibility at common law is Taylor v. Caldwell.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Impossibilitynoun

   the quality of being impossible; impracticability

2. Impossibilitynoun

   an impossible thing; that which can not be thought, done, or endured

3. Impossibilitynoun

   inability; helplessness

4. Etymology: [L. impossibilitas: cf. F. impossibilit.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Impossibility

   In contract law, impossibility is an excuse for the nonperformance of duties under a contract, based on a change in circumstances, the nonoccurrence of which was an underlying assumption of the contract, that makes performance of the contract literally impossible. For such a defense to be raised, performance must not merely be difficult or unexpectedly costly for one party; there must be no way for it to actually be accomplished. For example, if Rachel contracts to pay Joey $1000 to paint her house on October 1, but the house burns to the ground before the end of September, Rachel is excused from her duty to pay Joey the $1000, and he is excused from his duty to paint her house; however, Joey may still be able to sue for the unjust enrichment of any benefit conferred on Rachel before her house burned down. However, the parties to a contract may choose to ignore impossibility by inserting a hell or high water clause, which mandates that payments continue even if completion of the contract becomes physically impossible. The English case that established this doctrine at common law is Taylor v. Caldwell.

Matched Categories

1. • Nonexistence
   • Option

How to pronounce impossibility?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say impossibility in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of impossibility in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of impossibility in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of impossibility in a Sentence

1. Ray Bradbury:

   We are an impossibility in an impossible universe.

2. Leo Tolstoy:

   The changes in our life must come from the impossibility to live otherwise than according to the demands of our conscience not from our mental resolution to try a new form of life.

3. Esther Hicks:

   If you knew your potential to feel good, you would ask no one to be different so that you can feel good. You would free yourself of all of that cumbersome impossibility of needing to control the world, or control your mate, or control your child. You are the only one who creates your reality. For no one else can think for you, no one else can do it. It is only you, every bit of it you.

4. Aristotle:

   A likely impossibility is always preferable to an unconvincing possibility.

5. Charles Babbage:

   Propose to any englishman any principle, or any instrument, however admirable, and you will observe that the whole effort of the english mind is directed to find a difficulty, defect or an impossibility in it.

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