Where does “Power” come from?
Power derives from Middle English poer, from Old French pooir and poeir, from Latin potens and possum, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pótis.
Power (English): A button of a computer, a video game console, or...
Definitions
- A button of a computer, a video game console, or...
Ancestry of “Power”, step by step
Power traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English power
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | power | Ability, power or capability |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | poer | — |
| 3 | Latin | potēre | — |
| 4 | Latin | posse | present active infinitive of possum "to be able... |
| 5 | Latin | potis | able, capable, possible |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | potis | master, in control of |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |