Where does “povi” come from?
povi (Esperanto) 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.
povi (Esperanto): to be able to; can
Definitions
- to be able to; can
Ancestry of “povi”, step by step
povi traces back through 3 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 French pouvoir
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | pouvoir | can, to be able to; may; to be possible; may,... |
| 2 | Middle French | povoir | can; be able to; power |
| 3 | Old French | povoir | — |
| 4 | Old French | poeir | Alternative form of pooir |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | potere | to be able; second-person singular present... |
| 6 | Latin | possum | I am able, I can, I may |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | *possom | — |
via Italian potere
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italian | potere | can, could; be able to; may, might; be possible... |