Where does “overpotent” come from?

overpotent (English) comes from English potent, from Middle English potent, from Latin potēns, from Latin posse, from Latin potis, from Proto-Italic potis, from Proto-Indo-European pótis, from Proto-Indo-European ph₃tis — to drink.

overpotent (English): Too potent or powerful

Definitions

  1. Too potent or powerful

Ancestry of “overpotent”, step by step

overpotent traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English potent

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpotentPossessing strength; Powerfully effective; Having...
2Middle Englishpotentstaff, crutch
3Latinpotēnsbeing able (to), able; potent, mighty, strong, powerful
4Latinpossepresent active infinitive of possum  "to be able...
5Latinpotisable, capable, possible
6Proto-Italicpotismaster, in control of
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpótismaster, ruler; husband
8Proto-Indo-Europeanph₃tis
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₃-to drink

via English over

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishoverDiscontinued; ended or concluded; Thoroughly;...
2Middle Englishoverriverbank, seashore, brink
3Old Englishōferriverbank, seashore, brink, edge, margin, border
4Proto-West Germanicobarover, above
5Proto-Germanicuberover; over, above
6Proto-Indo-Europeanupérabove; over
7Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₃-
overpotent — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer