Where does “power” come from?
power (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman poer, from Latin potēre, 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.
power (Middle English): Ability, power or capability
Definitions
- Ability, power or capability
Ancestry of “power”, step by step
power traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Anglo-Norman poer
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | poer | — |
| 2 | Latin | potēre | — |
| 3 | Latin | posse | present active infinitive of possum "to be able... |
| 4 | Latin | potis | able, capable, possible |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | potis | master, in control of |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pótis | master, ruler; husband |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₃tis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₃- | to drink |