power

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈpaʊ.ə/, US /ˈpaʊ.ɚ/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English pouer, borrowed from Anglo-Norman poer (Old French poeir, modern French pouvoir),^[2][3] the infinitive poeir (“to be able”) used as a noun,^[3][4] from Vulgar Latin *potēre,^[3][5] which replaced Latin posse (“to be able”)^[6][4] and was formed from potis (“able, powerful”).^[5][3] Spanish poder and Italian potere come from the same verb.^[3] The Latin adjective goes back to Proto-Indo-European *poti- (“powerful; lord”), the root also of potent.^[3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ability to act, strength and might, especially in battle, and control or authority (about 1300).^[3][4] Barnhart's first example is probably before 1300, in Arthour and Merlin.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Middle English power also meant an armed force, an army.^[4][3] By the late 14th century it could mean a person in authority,^[3][4] and since the 16th century a deity or spiritual being.^[4] A specific ability or faculty is early 15th century,^[3] and the mathematical sense is 16th century.^[4] “A state with international influence” is from 1726,^[3] and in mechanics power became the energy available for work (1727) and then electrical supply (by 1896).^[3] Colloquial a power of “a great deal of” is from the 1660s.^[3] The powers that be comes from the Bible (Romans 13:1),^[3][7] and power corrupts from Lord Acton's letter of 1887: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”^[7] The verb meant “to make powerful” in 1540^[2][8] and “to supply with power” from 1898.^[2][3] Compounds include powerhouse (1881), power steering (1932) and power broker (1961).^[2]

Timeline

• before 1300 – noun (Arthour and Merlin).^[2]
• c. 1300 – ability, might, authority, an army.^[3]
• late 14th century – a person in authority.^[3]
• before 1400 – powerful.^[2]
• before 1420 – powerless.^[2]
• early 15th century – a particular ability or faculty.^[3]
• 1540 – verb, to make powerful.^[2][8]
• 16th century – a deity; the mathematical sense.^[4]
• 1660s – a power of, a great deal of.^[3]
• 1726 – a state with international influence.^[3]
• 1727 – energy available for work.^[3]
• 1881 – powerhouse.^[2]
• 1896 – electrical supply.^[3]
• 1898 – verb, to supply with power.^[2][3]
• 1932 – power steering.^[2]
• 1961 – power broker.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The ability or capacity to do something.
2. A particular faculty or skill: powers of observation.
3. Strength or force; might.
4. Control or authority over others; political, financial or social influence.
5. A person, group or state with great influence: a world power.
6. Legal authority to act: power of attorney.
7. Energy available for work, especially electricity: a power cut.
8. (mathematics) The product of a number multiplied by itself a given number of times.

Adjective

1. Operated by mechanical or electrical energy: power tools.
2. Relating to political, social or economic control: a power struggle.

Verb

1. To supply with power, especially for movement: powered by two engines.
2. To move with great speed or force.

Word family

• empower
• overpower
• repower
• power up

Related words

• possible
• potent
• potential
• puissant
• posse

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (2000), 4th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
6. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster