Where does “sleeping power” come from?
sleeping power (English) comes from English Power, from Middle English power, from Anglo-Norman poer, from Latin potēre, from Latin posse, from Latin potis, from Proto-Italic potis, from Proto-Indo-European pótis — to drink.
sleeping power (English): A power which is unused, or which has not been exercised for a long time; especially one which is extensive, but little-known
Definitions
- A power which is unused, or which has not been exercised for a long time; especially one which is extensive, but little-known
Ancestry of “sleeping power”, step by step
sleeping power traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Power
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Power | A button of a computer, a video game console, or... |
| 2 | Middle English | power | Ability, power or capability |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | poer | — |
| 4 | Latin | potēre | — |
| 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 |
via English sleeping
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sleeping | present participle of sleep; Asleep; Used for... |
| 2 | English | sleep | To rest in a state of reduced consciousness; To... |
| 3 | Middle English | slepen | to sleep; to become asleep, to cause to sleep; to... |
| 4 | Old English | slǣpan | — |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | slāpan | to sleep |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | slēpaną | to sleep |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | slab- | to be weak, be languid; be weak, limp, languid |