Where does “puissant” come from?

puissant (Middle French) comes 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 “puissant”, step by step

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

Words derived from “puissant”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₃- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ph₃tis →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pótis →