Where does “potentially” come from?
Potentially derives from English potential with the adverbial suffix -ly, from Middle English potencial, from Latin potentiālis meaning capable of, from Latin potentia meaning power, from Ancient Greek dúnamis meaning ability, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm meaning together.
potentially (English): In a manner showing much potential; with the...
Definitions
- In a manner showing much potential; with the...
Ancestry of “potentially”, 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 |