אֶפְשַׁר, (פשר) division, space between, alternative, whence possibility; it is possible. Targ. Job XIV, 14; a. fr.—Ḥull. 11ᵇ היכא דא׳ א׳ where it is possible (to ascertain facts), it is possible (we must do), but where it is impossible &c. Yeb. 61ᵇ sq. אין דנין א׳ משאי א׳ we cannot form an analogy between a case where there is an alternative and one where there is none. Sabb. 129ᵃ לא א׳ ליה he has no means. Y. Sot. VII, 21ᶜ bot. אי א׳ לומר you cannot say. Taan. 3ᵇ אי א׳ לעולם וכ׳ the world cannot exist without &c.; a. fr.