Where does “posse” come from?

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

posse (Latin): present active infinitive of possum  "to be able...

Definitions

  1. present active infinitive of possum  "to be able...

Ancestry of “posse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpotisable, capable, possible
2Proto-Italicpotismaster, in control of
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpótismaster, ruler; husband
4Proto-Indo-Europeanph₃tis—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₃-to drink

Words derived from “posse”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- →