non possumus
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of non possumus
From Latin: literally, “we cannot”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To rousing applause Citizen Smith was saluted by a class orator: "Te quoque, Alfrede praestantissime, felix ille miles, quamquam carmina de viis Novi Eboraci cantare non possumus . . . hand minus iuvat salutare."
From Time Magazine Archive
The Prague Government made representations to Budapest, but the Royal Hungarian Government assumed a non possumus attitude.
From Time Magazine Archive
The curt non possumus is usually the last resource of the diplomatist when argument has failed, and it very seldom makes for peace, as everybody knows.
From Delilah of the Snows by Bindloss, Harold
Quare satis mirari non possumus, quod verba vestra plus arrogantiæ tumore insipida quam sale sapientiæ condita sentimus....
From Renaissance in Italy, Volume 1 (of 7) The Age of the Despots by Symonds, John Addington
This we politely declined, with the plea of "non possumus".
From Fighting For Peace by Van Dyke, Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
