Meaning of possum | Babel Free

Definitions

1. be able to, can, may
   impersonal, suppletive
2. in the 3rd person singular (pote est): it may be, it is possible
   impersonal, suppletive
3. to have influence or efficacy, to avail, to have power over, to have mastery of, to rule over
   impersonal, intransitive, suppletive, usually

Equivalents

Examples

“Tunc, modo edere nōn potuit”

At that time, he just wasn't able to eat

“Possum Latīnē loquī.”

I am able to speak in Latin.

“Potesne mihi succurrere, quaesō?”

Can you help me please?

““… Pallāsne exūrere classem Argīvum atque ipsōs potuit submergere pontō, ūnīus ob noxam et furiās Aiācis Oīlēī?” “Was not Pallas able to burn the Argive fleet and to drown [the men] themselves in the sea – [all] because of the crime and fury of [just] one man, Ajax, [son] of Oileus?””

(Pallas or Athena meted divine retribution after the fall of Troy; there the Argive/Greek invaders had desecrated Athena’s temple, in which Ajax the Lesser assaulted Cassandra.)

“tū tamen ī prō mē, tū, cui licet, aspice Rōmam, dī facerent, possem nunc meus esse līber! Nevertheless, you go instead of me – you, to whom it is allowed, behold [the city of] Rome – Gods! [If only you] would grant [it], [that] now I would be able to be my book!”

(The exiled poet addresses his book as if it were a living emissary that he will send to Rome in his place. The optative subjunctive “facerent” expresses a wish, followed by the jussive subjunctive “possem” stating what the writer believes should be done.)

“quantum potest”

how much/as far as (is) possible

“Potest ut alii ita arbitrentur et ego ut ne credam tibi.”

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

“Nos in senatu, quemadmodum spero, dignitatem nostram, ut potest in tanta hominum perfidia et iniquitate, retinebimus; […]”

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

“Non, non sic futurumst: non potest.”

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

CEFR level