Etymologically
Log in

potentialis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 24 October 2026 at 18:53. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [pɔ.tɛn.tiˈaː.lɪs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [po.ten.t͡siˈaː.lis][1]

Forms

potentiālis (neuter potentiāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin potentia (“power”) + -ālis.[1][2][3] Köbler refers it to potēns (“powerful”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in Marius Victorinus' treatise against Arius,[2][5][4] where the Son is called an actio potentialis, an activity that is at the same time the possibility of everything that exists.[2]

Semantic evolution

Late Latin also had the adverb potentialiter.[2][1] In the scholastic Latin of Thomas Aquinas the adjective meant both “belonging to a power”, beside virtualis, and “possible”, the opposite of actualis.[6] British medieval sources use it in grammar, logic and philosophy, and of heat or cold that is present in potential as against in act.[3] Polish documents also used it for “wielding power, powerful”.[7]

English took over potential in the late 14th century, from medieval Latin potentialis, partly through Old French.[8]

Timeline

  • first half of the 4th century AD – Marius Victorinus calls the Son an actio potentialis.[2][5][4]
  • late 14th century – English potential is borrowed, partly through French.[8]
  • 1405 – A Kraków document speaks of the potentialis auctoritas of princes.[7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Of or belonging to a power or faculty.[2][6]
  2. (Medieval Latin, philosophy) potential, possible, as opposed to actual.[3][6]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Wielding power, powerful.[7]

Word family

  • potentialiter

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  6. ^ a b c Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
  7. ^ a b c Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com