Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “Potentia” come from?

Potentia (Latin) comes from Latin potēns, from Latin posse, from Latin potis, from Proto-Italic potis, from Proto-Indo-European pótis, from Proto-Indo-European ph₃tis, from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- — to drink.

Ancestry of “Potentia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpotēns—
2Latinpossepresent active infinitive of possum  "to be able...
3Latinpotisable, capable, possible
4Proto-Italicpotis—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpótismaster, ruler; husband
6Proto-Indo-Europeanph₃tis—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₃-to drink

Words derived from “Potentia”

  • Potenza
  • Potenza
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- →