Where does “potent” come from?
potent (Middle English) 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.
potent (Middle English): staff, crutch
Definitions
- staff, crutch
Ancestry of “potent”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | potēns | being able (to), able; potent, mighty, strong, powerful |
| 2 | Latin | posse | present active infinitive of possum "to be able... |
| 3 | Latin | potis | able, capable, possible |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | potis | master, in control of |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |