potentia Latin · revision 7136

16 Oct 2026, 13:18 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
Initial text

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cicero|origins=la potis}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [pɔˈtɛn.ti.a]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [poˈtɛn.t͡si.a]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''potentia''' ''f'' (genitive potentiae); first declension^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[potēns]] “able, powerful” with the suffix [[-ia]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) Etymonline traces ⟨potēns⟩ to [[potis]] “able” and [[ine-pro|*poti-|t=powerful]].^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of power over others.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant power over others, influence, as distinct from ''potestās'', official power, and in Virgil rule, sway.^(OLD 2012) It meant ability, power to do something, as Livy's ''armōrum tenendōrum potentia'' “power to hold arms”, and in Ovid an active property, efficacy, as of the sun, beauty or a disease.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016) Döderlein explains that ''potentia'' and ''potestās'' are an outward power exercised through and over men, ''vīs'' and ''rōbur'' an inner strength.^(Döderlein 1874)
+ 
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant power, strength, might, ability, potency.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it of an armed force and of a crutch, and scholastic Latin of potentiality, as opposed to ''āctus''.^(Niermeyer 1976)^(DMLBS) It gave [[en|potency]] in the mid-15th century and [[en|potence]] through Old French, and Medieval Latin ''potentiālis'' gave [[en|potential]].^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of influence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of rule.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of efficacy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * mid-15th century – English ''potency'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # Power, influence; rule.^(OLD 2012)
+ # Ability, capacity.^(OLD 2012)
+ # An active property; efficacy, [[m|en|potency]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' An armed force.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ # ''(scholastic)'' Potentiality.^(DMLBS)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[potentiālis]]
+ * [[potentiāliter]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[possum]]
+ * [[potēns]]
+ * [[potenter]]
+ * [[potis]]
+ * [[potestās]]
+ * [[en|potency]]
+ * [[en|potential]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}