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
- The ability or capacity to do something.
- A particular faculty or skill: powers of observation.
- Strength or force; might.
- Control or authority over others; political, financial or social influence.
- A person, group or state with great influence: a world power.
- Legal authority to act: power of attorney.
- Energy available for work, especially electricity: a power cut.
- (mathematics) The product of a number multiplied by itself a given number of times.
Adjective
- Operated by mechanical or electrical energy: power tools.
- Relating to political, social or economic control: a power struggle.
Verb
- To supply with power, especially for movement: powered by two engines.
- To move with great speed or force.
Word family
- empower
- overpower
- repower
- power up
Related words
- possible
- potent
- potential
- puissant
- posse
References
- ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (2000), 4th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
- ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
- ^ a b Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster