impotens Latin · revision 31169

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=ine-pro *pótis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈɪm.pɔ.tẽːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈim.po.tens]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''impotēns''' (genitive impotentis, superlative impotentissimus, adverb impotenter); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''inpotēns''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the negative [[m|la|in-|t=not]] and [[m|la|potēns|t=powerful]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives ⟨potēns⟩ from a stative verb [[itc-pro|*potē-|t=to be master]], from the noun [[m|itc-pro|*poti-|t=master]], [[ine-pro|*pótis|t=master, lord]], cognate with [[sa|पति|tr=páti-|t=lord, master]], [[grc|πόσις|tr=pósis|t=husband]] and [[lt|pàts|t=husband]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first example in the OLD is Terence's ''Andria'', of a man “so headstrong” as to want to keep her against the citizens' custom;^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) Köbler gives Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is powerless or weak, as Cicero's laws that serve “the help of the powerless”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) With a genitive it is having no control over something, as Livy's Gauls blazing with anger, “which that race cannot control”, and ''impotēns suī'' is beside oneself.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Absolutely it is lacking self-control, headstrong, violent or intemperate, of persons, of feelings and acts, as Cicero's “so unbridled and cruel inhumanity”, and in poetry of the wild sea, as Catullus' “so many raging straits”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In medieval Latin it is helpless, unable to defend oneself.^(Niermeyer 1976) English [[m|en|impotent]] came from it through Old French in the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of a headstrong man.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the powerless and of unbridled cruelty.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of uncontrolled anger.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|impotent]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Powerless, weak, [[m|en|impotent]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(with genitive)'' Having no control over; incapable of;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''impotēns suī'', beside oneself.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Lacking self-control, [[m|en|headstrong]], violent, unbridled;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) (of the sea) raging.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Helpless, unable to defend oneself.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[impotentia]]

+ * [[impotenter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[potēns]]

+ * [[potis]]

+ * [[possum]]

+ * [[en|impotent]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}