potential English · revision 3338

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1398|origins=la potis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /pəˈten.ʃəl/, US /poʊˈten.ʃəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|potencial]],^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|potenciel]] and directly [[bor|la-lat|potentiālis|t=potential, powerful]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[la|potentia|t=power, might, force]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|potēns|t=powerful]], the present participle of [[m|la|posse|t=to be able]],^(AHD 2000) from [[m|la|potis|t=powerful, able]],^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*poti-|t=powerful; lord]].^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster notes that Late Latin potentia rendered Greek dýnamis, “a state not yet fully realized”.^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[potent]] and [[potency]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Possible as opposed to actual; latent”: before 1398, in Trevisa's translation of Bartholomew,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) or the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In late Middle English a ''potential'' was also a caustic medicine for cauterizing, before 1425,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and ''potential cautery'' a chemical that burns the skin like a hot iron.^(OED 1989) The adjective meant “potent, powerful” from about 1485, now rare.^(OED 1989) In grammar the ''potential mood'', expressing possibility, is from 1524.^(OED 1989) The noun, “something possible, a possibility”, is from 1817, in Coleridge's ''Biographia Literaria''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) In physics ''potential energy'' is from 1744^(OED 1989) and the potential function from 1828;^(OED 1989) electric potential is the work needed to bring a unit charge from infinitely far away to a given point.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1398 – possible, latent.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1425 – noun, a caustic medicine.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1485 – powerful.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1524 – the potential mood.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1744 – ''potential energy''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1817 – noun, a possibility.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Capable of coming into being but not yet existing; [[latent]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Expressing possibility, as with ''may'' or ''can''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The ability to develop or succeed in the future: ''has great potential''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(physics)'' The work needed to bring a unit [[electric charge]] or mass to a point from far away; [[voltage]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[potentially]]

+ * [[geopotential]]

+ * [[overpotential]]

+ * [[multipotential]]

+ * [[equipotential]]

+ * [[nonpotential]]

+ * [[unipotential]]

+ * [[action potential]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[potence]]

+ * [[potency]]

+ * [[potent]]

+ * [[potentate]]

+ * [[potentiality]]

+ * [[possible]]

+ * [[power]]

+ * [[despot]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}