Where does “potentiality” come from?
Potentiality derives from English potential combined with the French suffix -ité, from Latin -alis and -ia, from Ancient Greek -ία, from Latin -itas, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pótis meaning master or powerful.
potentiality (English): The quality of being, or having potential; An...
Definitions
- The quality of being, or having potential; An...
Ancestry of “potentiality”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | potential | Currently unrealized ability; The gravitational... |
| 2 | Late Latin | potentialis | force, power |
| 3 | Dutch | potentiaal | — |
| 4 | German | potenzial | potential |
| 5 | Latin | potentialis | force, power |
| 6 | Latin | Potentia | situated in the valley of the Casuentus, now Potenza |
| 7 | Latin | potēns | being able (to), able; potent, mighty, strong, powerful |
| 8 | Latin | posse | present active infinitive of possum "to be able... |
| 9 | Latin | potis | able, capable, possible |
| 10 | Proto-Italic | potis | master, in control of |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |