potis Latin · revision 2735

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *pótis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpɔ.tɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɔː.tis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''potis''' / pote (comparative potior, superlative potissimus)^(Wiktionary)

+ It is indeclinable and used predicatively, ''potin'' stands for ''potisne'', and Varro invented a nominative ''pos'' by analogy with ''impos''.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*poti-|t=master, in control]], [[inh|ine-pro|*pótis|t=master, lord, husband]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(Pokorny 1959) The Indo-European noun became an adjective in Latin in the phrase [[m|la|potis esse]] and in the compounds [[compos]] and [[impos]], and then acquired the comparative [[potior]] and superlative [[potissimus]] and the deponent verb meaning “to get possession” (potīrī); the TLL remarks that [[dominus]] took over the function of the old noun.^(de Vaan 2008)^(TLL) Cognate with [[osc|pútíad|t=may be able]], [[sa|पति|tr=páti-|t=lord, husband]], [[ae|paiti-|t=lord]], [[grc|πόσις|tr=pósis|t=husband]], [[lt|pats|t=husband]], [[got|𐌱𐍂𐌿𐌸𐍆𐌰𐌸𐍃|tr=brūþfaþs|t=bridegroom]] and [[xto|pats|t=husband]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The verb [[possum]] arose from ''potis'' with [[sum]], by a process de Vaan calls disputed, and [[potens|alt=potēns]] from an Italic stative verb *pot-ē- “to be master”.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius onwards in the phrase ''potis esse'' “to be [[m|en|able]]”;^(de Vaan 2008) Plautus asks how he could persuade someone, and Ennius says that flowing blood cannot be stopped by any means.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant able, with an infinitive, or liable to something, and in the neuter ''pote est'' “it is possible”, while ''quantum pote'' meant “as much as possible” and ''potin ut'' “is it possible that?”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Varro quotes ''divi potes'' “the mighty gods” as a translation of the Greek name of the gods of Samothrace, the only declined use.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ Lewis and Short note that the positive is mostly pre-classical and poetic, and that in Classical prose only the comparative ''potior'' “preferable” and the adverb [[potius]] “rather” remain in use.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Medieval poets such as Wulfstan and Orderic Vitalis kept ''potis est'', and Osbern of Gloucester glossed it as “possible”.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius has ''potis esse''.^(de Vaan 2008)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in questions, ''potin ut''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius has ''potis est'' with a passive infinitive.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro quotes ''divi potes'' and coins a nominative ''pos''.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses ''potis est'' of what can never be separated.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil has ''non potis est vis ulla tenere''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|able|alt=Able]], having the power, with an infinitive; liable to.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(neuter, pote)'' Possible, as in ''pote est'', it is possible.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(declined, rare)'' Powerful, mighty, of the gods.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[compos]]

+ * [[impos]]

+ * [[possideō]]

+ * [[possum]]

+ * [[potestās]]

+ * [[potin]]

+ * [[potior]]

+ * [[potius]]

+ * [[-pte]]

+ * [[utpote]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hospes]]

+ * [[en|possible]]

+ * [[en|potent]]

+ * [[en|power]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Classical Latin the word lives on chiefly in [[possum]] “to be able”, in the comparative [[potior]] and the adverb [[potius]] “rather”, and in derivatives such as [[potestas|alt=potestās]] and [[potens|alt=potēns]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}