Potent
/ˈpoʊ.tənt/noun
Having great power, influence, or effect.
Did you know?Potent comes from the same ancient root as Latin *posse* (“to be able”), the ancestor of English words like *possible* and *power*, so its history is literally about capacity, force, and control.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*potis
“master, able, powerful”
Latin
Latin
potens
“powerful, mighty, having ability”
Latin
Latin
potent-
“present participle stem of *potens*, powerful”
Old French
Old French
potent
“powerful, mighty”
Middle English
English
potent
“powerful, strong, effective”
Modern English
English
potent
“having great power, influence, or effect”