possum Latin · revision 9642

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *pótis, ine-pro *h₁es-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpɔs.sũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɔs.sum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''possum''' (present infinitive posse or potesse, perfect active potuī); irregular conjugation, suppletive, impersonal in the passive in Old Latin, no gerund^(Wiktionary)

+ Old forms are ''potis sum'' and ''potis est'' for ''possum'', ''potest'', in Plautus, and the infinitive ''potesse'' in Plautus, Terence, Lucilius and Lucretius.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*possom]], from [[m|itc-pro|*potis|t=master, in control of]] and [[m|itc-pro|*som|t=I am]]; by surface analysis it is [[af|la|potis|sum]].^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012) De Vaan traces ⟨potis⟩ to [[ine-pro|*pót-i-|t=master, lord]], which became an adjective in combination with ⟨esse⟩; the perfect ⟨potuī⟩ belonged to a stative verb ⟨*pot-ē-⟩ “to be master” and was later reanalysed as the perfect of ⟨posse⟩. ^(de Vaan 2008) The exact process that led from ⟨potis⟩ + ⟨esse⟩ to the paradigm of ⟨posse⟩ is disputed.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognates include [[osc|pútíad|t=may be able]] and [[sa|पति|tr=páti|t=lord, master]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ With an infinitive it meant to be able, be capable of, as in Plautus; to bring oneself to do something unpleasant, have the heart to; to be permitted by law or custom, have a right; it expressed contingency or possibility; and with an accusative it meant to be capable of something, as in Lucilius.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to be able, have power, can.^(Stelten 1995) It continues as Italian ''potere'', Old French ''pooir'', Spanish and Portuguese ''poder'' and Romanian ''putea''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it, also as ''potis sum'' and ''potesse''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it with an accusative.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of what can happen.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(with infinitive)'' To be [[m|en|able]], be capable of.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To bring oneself, have the heart (to do something hard).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To be permitted by law or custom, have a right.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To be possible, be able to happen.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(with accusative)'' To be capable of; to have [[m|en|power]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[possibilis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[absum]]

+ * [[adsum]]

+ * [[dēsum]]

+ * [[īnsum]]

+ * [[intersum]]

+ * [[obsum]]

+ * [[potentiālis]]

+ * [[potis]]

+ * [[praesum]]

+ * [[prōsum]]

+ * [[potēns]]

+ * [[sum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}