Where does “potentate” come from?
Potentate derives from Middle English potentat, from Late Latin potentatus, from Latin potens meaning "powerful," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pótis meaning "master."
potentate (English): A powerful leader; a monarch; a ruler; A powerful...
Definitions
- A powerful leader; a monarch; a ruler; A powerful...
Ancestry of “potentate”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | potentat | potentate |
| 2 | Old French | potentat | — |
| 3 | Latin | potentātus | might, power |
| 4 | Latin | potēns | being able (to), able; potent, mighty, strong, powerful |
| 5 | Latin | posse | present active infinitive of possum "to be able... |
| 6 | Latin | potis | able, capable, possible |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | potis | master, in control of |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |