power English · revision 1984

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1300 (Arthour and Merlin)|origins=la potis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpaʊ.ə/, US /ˈpaʊ.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|pouer]], [[bor|xno|poer]] (Old French [[m|fro|poeir]], modern [[fr|pouvoir]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) the infinitive [[m|fro|poeir|t=to be able]] used as a noun,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|la-vul|*potēre]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) which replaced [[la|posse|t=to be able]]^(Wiktionary)^(Hoad 1986) and was formed from [[m|la|potis|t=able, powerful]].^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline) [[es|poder]] and [[it|potere]] come from the same verb.^(Etymonline) The Latin adjective goes back to [[ine-pro|*poti-|t=powerful; lord]], the root also of [[potent]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ability to act, strength and might, especially in battle, and control or authority (about 1300).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart's first example is probably before 1300, in ''Arthour and Merlin''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle English ''power'' also meant an armed force, an army.^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) By the late 14th century it could mean a person in authority,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) and since the 16th century a deity or spiritual being.^(Hoad 1986) A specific ability or faculty is early 15th century,^(Etymonline) and the mathematical sense is 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) “A state with international influence” is from 1726,^(Etymonline) and in mechanics ''power'' became the energy available for work (1727) and then electrical supply (by 1896).^(Etymonline) Colloquial ''a power of'' “a great deal of” is from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) ''The powers that be'' comes from the Bible (Romans 13:1),^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) and ''power corrupts'' from Lord Acton's letter of 1887: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”^(Cresswell 2021) The verb meant “to make powerful” in 1540^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) and “to supply with power” from 1898.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Compounds include ''powerhouse'' (1881), ''power steering'' (1932) and ''power broker'' (1961).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – noun (''Arthour and Merlin'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – ability, might, authority, an army.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – a person in authority.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1400 – ''powerful''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1420 – ''powerless''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – a particular ability or faculty.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540 – verb, to make powerful.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 16th century – a deity; the mathematical sense.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1660s – ''a power of'', a great deal of.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1726 – a state with international influence.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1727 – energy available for work.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1881 – ''powerhouse''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1896 – electrical supply.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1898 – verb, to supply with power.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1932 – ''power steering''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1961 – ''power broker''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The ability or capacity to do something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A particular faculty or skill: ''powers of observation''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Strength or force; might.^(AHD)

+ # Control or [[authority]] over others; political, financial or social influence.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person, group or state with great influence: ''a world power''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Legal authority to act: ''power of attorney''.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Energy available for work, especially [[electricity]]: ''a power cut''.^(Etymonline)^(Roach et al. 2011)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' The product of a number multiplied by itself a given number of times.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Operated by mechanical or electrical energy: ''power tools''.^(AHD)

+ # Relating to political, social or economic control: ''a power struggle''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To supply with power, especially for movement: ''powered by two engines''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To move with great speed or force.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[empower]]

+ * [[overpower]]

+ * [[repower]]

+ * [[power up]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[possible]]

+ * [[potent]]

+ * [[potential]]

+ * [[puissant]]

+ * [[posse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}