power etymology

English word power comes from Latin potis (able, capable, possible.), -ius (a Latin suffix) and sum (I am, exist, have) through Vulgar Latin *potēre (power)

Detailed word origin of power

Dictionary entryLanguageDefinition
potis Latin (lat) Able, capable, possible.
-ius Latin (lat) Genitive suffix for some irregular pronouns. Forming adjectives from nouns.
sum Latin (lat) (copulative) I am, exist, have (with dative).
possum Latin (lat) I am able, can.
*potēre Vulgar Latin (la-vul)
podir Old French (fro) (very early Old French).
poer Middle English (enm)
power English (eng) (transitive) To hit or kick something forcefully.. (transitive) To provide power for (a mechanical or electronic device).. To enable or provide the impetus for. (Singapore, colloquial) Impressive. (biblical, in plural) In Christian angelology, an intermediate level of angels, ranked above archangels, but exact position varies by classification scheme.. (countable) Ability to affect or [...]

Words with the same origin as power

Descendants of potis
firepower horsepower impossible impotent manpower poison poisonous possess possession possibility possible potent potential potion powerful powering powerless willpower
Descendants of -ius
battery college conscience council custody desire evidence force office officer official provide quality review robbery television territory trace union unit vice video view vision visit
Descendants of sum
absence absent entity essence essential improve improvement improving presence present presentation represent representation sense senseless sensor