Where does “supermacht” come from?
supermacht (Dutch) comes from English superpower, from English Power, from Middle English power, from Anglo-Norman poer, from Latin potēre, from Latin posse, from Latin potis, from Proto-Italic potis — to drink.
supermacht (Dutch): A military/political superpower, a great power of...
Definitions
- A military/political superpower, a great power of...
Ancestry of “supermacht”, step by step
supermacht traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English superpower
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | superpower | Excessive or superior power; A sovereign state... |
| 2 | English | Power | A button of a computer, a video game console, or... |
| 3 | Middle English | power | Ability, power or capability |
| 4 | Anglo-Norman | poer | — |
| 5 | Latin | potēre | — |
| 6 | Latin | posse | present active infinitive of possum "to be able... |
| 7 | Latin | potis | able, capable, possible |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | potis | master, in control of |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |