potentially
|po-ten-tial-ly|
B2
/pəˈtɛnʃəli/
(potential)
inherent ability
Etymology
Etymology Information
'potentially' originates from the Latin word 'potentialis', where 'potentia' meant 'power' or 'capacity'.
Historical Evolution
'potentialis' transformed into the Old French word 'potentiel', and eventually became the modern English word 'potentially'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'having power or capacity', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'in a way that shows the capacity to develop into something in the future'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a way that shows the capacity to develop into something in the future.
The new drug could potentially save thousands of lives.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35