Latin

possum

‘to be able to’

Every word has its own definition in its root. These English words share one: Latin possum.

10 English words in this record descend from Latin possum, most familiar first.

• possible ← possibilis
• impossible ← impossibilis ← possibilis
• possibility ← possibilite ← possibilité ← possibilite ← possibilitās
• impotent ← impotēns ← potēns
• impossibility ← impossibilité ← impossibilitās ← impossibilis ← possibilis
• potentate ← potentat ← potentat ← potentātus ← potēns
• potentilla ← potēns
• potence ← potentia ← potens
• possibilism ← possibilisme ← possible ← possibilis
• possibilitate ← possibilis

Etymograph / Latin possum