Where does “multipotent” come from?
Multipotent comes from English multi- combined with potent, which derives from Latin potens (powerful), itself from Latin possum (to be able), ultimately traced to Proto-Indo-European pótis (master) and mey- (to change).
multipotent (English): Having the power to do many different things;...
Definitions
- Having the power to do many different things;...
Ancestry of “multipotent”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | potent | Possessing strength; Powerfully effective; Having... |
| 2 | Middle English | potent | — |
| 3 | Latin | potēns | — |
| 4 | Latin | posse | present active infinitive of possum "to be able... |
| 5 | Latin | potis | able, capable, possible |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | potis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |