Where does “willpower” come from?
Willpower derives from English will and power, with will tracing through Middle English wollen and Old English wyllen to Proto-Germanic wiljô, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂wĺ̥h₁neh₂.
willpower (English): The unwavering strength of will to carry out...
Definitions
- The unwavering strength of will to carry out...
Ancestry of “willpower”, step by step
willpower traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Will
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Will | A weak-side linebacker |
| 2 | English | william | radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter W |
| 3 | Middle English | William | — |
| 4 | Anglo-Norman | Willame | — |
| 5 | Old High German | Willahelm | William |
| 6 | Old High German | helm | helmet |
| 7 | Proto-West Germanic | helm | helmet |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | helmaz | helmet |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | halmaz | halm; stem; stalk; straw; hay |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱolh₂mos | stalk |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |
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 |