LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
verbirregular conjugation, suppletive, impersonal in the passive in Old Latin, no gerund

possum

possum (present infinitive posse or potesse, perfect active potuī)
Classical[ˈpɔs.sũː]Ecclesiastical[ˈpɔs.sum]
potēns pres. act. ptcp.№ 23 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. impersonalsuppletivebe able to, can, may
    Tunc, modo edere nōn potuitAt that time, he just wasn't able to eat
    Possum Latīnē loquī.I am able to speak in Latin.
  2. impersonalsuppletivein the 3rd person singular (pote est): it may be, it is possible
    quantum potesthow much/as far as (is) possible
    Potest ut alii ita arbitrentur et ego ut ne credam tibi.c. 191 BCE, Plautus, Pseudolus 2.2.39
  3. impersonalintransitivesuppletiveusuallyto have influence or efficacy, to avail, to have power over, to have mastery of, to rule over

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

quī multum potest; victor potēns est.
potēns -entis — in Mille Verba, Certāmina Gymnica

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Posse · Quire · Valere · Pollere

1. Posse and quire were originally transitive; posse (from πότνιος) denotes being able, as a consequence of power and strength, like δύνασθαι; quire (κοεῖν) as the consequence of complete qualification, like οἷόν τ’ εἶναι. Cic. Tusc. ii. 27. Barbari ferro decertare acerrime possunt, viriliter ægrotare non queunt; whereas valere and pollere are intransitive. Hence we say, possum or queo vincere, but valeo or polleo ad vincendum. 2. Valere (from ἑλεῖν) means to possess the right measure of strength, and thereby to match another, in opp. to insufficient strength, like σθένειν; whereas pollere (πολλός) means to have very considerable strength and means, and thereby to distinguish one’s self from others, in opp. to an ordinary degree of strength, like ἰσχύειν. iv. (160.)

Conjugation irregular

active indicative
formpresentimperfectfutureperfectpluperfectfut. perfect
1st sg.possumpoterampoterōpotuīpotuerampotuerō
2nd sg.potespoterāspoteris
potere		potuistīpotuerāspotueris
3rd sg.potestpoteratpoteritpotuitpotueratpotuerit
1st pl.possumuspoterāmuspoterimuspotuimuspotuerāmuspotuerimus
2nd pl.potestispoterātispoteritispotuistispotuerātispotueritis
3rd pl.possuntpoterantpoterunt
poterint		potuērunt
potuēre		potuerantpotuerint
active subjunctive
active subjunctive
formpresentimperfectperfectpluperfect
1st sg.possimpossempotuerimpotuissem
2nd sg.possīspossēspotuerīspotuissēs
3rd sg.possitpossetpotueritpotuisset
1st pl.possīmuspossēmuspotuerīmuspotuissēmus
2nd pl.possītispossētispotuerītispotuissētis
3rd pl.possintpossentpotuerintpotuissent
passive indicative
passive indicative
formpresentimperfectfuture
1st sg.———
2nd sg.———
3rd sg.potesturpoterāturpoteritur
1st pl.———
2nd pl.———
3rd pl.———
passive subjunctive
passive subjunctive
formpresentimperfect
1st sg.——
2nd sg.——
3rd sg.possīturpossētur
1st pl.——
2nd pl.——
3rd pl.——
infinitives & participles
formactivepassive
present infinitiveposse
potesse		—
perfect infinitivepotuisse—
present participlepotēns—

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

risum tenere vix posse
to be scarcely able to restrain one's laughter.
navibus plurimum posse
to have a powerful navy.
somnum capere non posse
to be unable to sleep.
lacrimas tenere non posse
to be hardly able to restrain one's tears.
fletum cohibere non posse
to be hardly able to restrain one's tears.
quod vere praedicare possum
without wishing to boast, yet...
hoc facile intellegi potest
that is self-evident, goes without saying.
risum aegre continere posse
to be scarcely able to restrain one's laughter.
18 more phrases
hoc dici potest de aliqua re
this can be said of..., applies to...
multum dicendo valere, posse
to have great weight as a speaker.
prae lacrimis loqui non posse
to be unable to speak for emotion.
a me impetrare non possum, ut
I cannot bring myself to...
verbis non omnia exsequi posse
to be unable to say all one wants.
non possum adduci, ut (credam)
I cannot make myself believe that...
hoc transferri potest in aliquid
this can be said of..., applies to...
copiam quam potui persecutus sum
I have exhausted all my material.
quam maximis itineribus (potest)
by the longest possible forced marches.
qui arma ferre possunt or iuventus
men of military age.
multum auctoritate valere, posse apud aliquem
to have great influence with a person; to have considerable weight.
ex quo intellegitur or intellegi potest, debet
from this it appears, is apparent.
facultatem alicui dare alicuius rei or ut possit...
to give a man the opportunity of doing a thing.
res, quae moveri possunt; res moventes (Liv. 5. 25. 6)
movable, personal property.
qui per aetatem arma ferre non possunt or aetate ad bellum inutiles
men exempt from service owing to age.
dici vix (non) potest or vix potest dici (vix like non always before potest)
I cannot find words for...
aliquem a ceteris separare et in arcam conicere ne quis cum eo colloqui possit (Mil. 22. 60)
to isolate a witness.
adulescens alios bene de se sperare iubet, bonam spem ostendit or alii de adulescente bene sperare possunt
he is a young man of great promise.

possum, pŏtŭi, posse,
I. v. n. irreg. (old forms, potis sum, for possum, Plaut. Poen. 5, 2, 26; id. Curc. 5, 3, 23; so, potis est, id. Ps. 1, 1, 41: potis sunt, for possunt, id. Poen. 1, 2, 17: POTISIT, S. C. de Bacchan.: potisset, for posset, and potisse, for posse, Lucil. ap. Non. 484, 32, and 445, 29: potesse, for posse, very freq., Plaut. Aul. 2, 4, 30; id. Cist. 1, 1, 32; id. Truc. 1, 1, 73; id. Ep. 2, 2, 43; id. Bacch. 3, 6, 30 al.; Lucr. 1, 665; 2, 225; 1010: possiem, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 5, 2; id. Stich. 3, 2, 25: potis sis, id. Poen. 4, 2, 53: potis siem, id. Merc. 2, 2, 59: possies, Enn. ap. Gell. 2, 29 fin., or Sat. v. 38 Vahl.; Plaut. As. 4, 2, 10; id. Aul. 4, 10, 17; id. Most. 2, 2, 34; 3, 2, 147; id. Men. 5, 9, 45: possiet, id. Cist. 1, 3, 37; id. Bacch. 3, 1, 3; id. Most. 1, 1, 13 al.; cf. Brix ad Plaut. Mil. 884; Fleck. Krit. Misc. p. 45 sq.—In pass.: potestur, Enn. ap. Diom. p. 380 P. (Ann. v. 594 Vahl.): Pac. ap. Non. 508, 29; Quadrig. ap. id. 508, 30; Lucr. 3, 1010: poteratur, Cael. ap. Non. 508, 27: possitur, Lex. Servil. p. 59 Haubold; Scaurus ap. Diom. p. 381 P.: possetur, Quadrig. ap. Non. 508, 18) [potis-sum].
I. In gen., to be able, have power; I (thou, he, etc.) can (syn. queo): quantum valeam, quantumque possim, Cic. Fam. 6, 5, 1: consilio, quantum potero, labore plus paene quam potero exeubabo, id. Phil. 6, 7, 18: ut, quoad possem et liceret, a senis latere nunquam discederem, id. Lael. 1, 1: timor igitur ab iis aegritudinem potuit repellere, ratio non poterit? id. Tuse. 3, 27, 66.—With sup.: Caesari te commendavi et tradidi, ut gravissime diligentissimeque potui, as earnestly and warmly as I possibly could, Cic. Fam. 7, 17, 2: potest fieri, it may be, is possible: potest fieri, ut fallar, id. ib. 13, 73, 2: non possum quin, I can not but: non possum quin exclamem, ut ait ille in Trinummo (Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 79; cf. id. Mil. 2, 2, 107); Cic. de Or. 2, 10, 39: ut nihil ad te dem litterarum, facere non possum, I cannot help writing to you, id. Att. 8, 14, 1: facere non potui quin tibi sententiam declararem meam, id. Fam. 6, 13, 1; cf.: non possum non: aequitatem tuam non potui non probare, id. ib. 1, 9, 26: non possum te non accusare, id. ib. 5, 14, 2: is non potest eam (mortem) non timere, id. Fin. 3, 8, 29.—Absol.: potest (sc. fieri), it may be, is possible: potest, ut alii ita arbitrentur, Plaut. Ps. 2, 2, 38: non, non sic futurum est; non potest, Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 73; Plaut. Mil. 3, 1, 100 Brix; cf. id. Trin. 3, 3, 3: quae (mala) si potest singula consolando levare, etc., Cic. Fin. 5, 28, 84: nos dignitatem, ut potest, retinebimus, id. Fam. 1, 2, 4.—Quantum or ut potest, as much or as far as possible: ibo atque arcessam medicum, quantum potest, Plaut. Men. 5, 2; id. Most. 3, 2, 71; Ter. Eun. 5, 1, 20: nos in senatu dignitatem nostram, ut potest in tantā hominum perfidiā, retinebimus, Cic. Fam. 1, 2, 4.—In urgent questions: possum scire, quo profectus, cujus sis, aut quid veneris? may I know? can I learn? pray, will you tell me? Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 190: possumne ego hodie ex te exsculpere Verum? Ter. Eun. 4, 4, 44.—
II. In partic.
A. To be able, to have influence or efficacy, to avail.
1. With neutr. acc. used adverbially (class.; cf. polleo): vocat me, quae in me plus potest, Plaut. Truc. 4, 2, 42: plus potest qui plus valet, id. ib. 4, 3, 38: qui tum et poterant per vim et scelus plurimum, et quod poterant, id audebant, Cic. Quint. 21, 69: quid ergo? hoc pueri possunt, viri non poterunt? id. Tusc. 2, 14, 34: qui apud me et amicitiā, et beneficiis, et dignitate plurimum possunt, id. Rosc. Am. 1, 4: plus aliquanto apud te pecuniae cupiditas, quam judicii metus potuit, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 57, § 131; id. de Or. 2, 42, 180: quid aristolochia ad morsus serpentum possit, id. Div. 1, 10, 16: quoniam multum potest provisio animi ad minuendum dolorem, id. Tusc. 3, 14, 30: ad beate vivendum satis posse virtutem, id. ib. 5, 5, 12: multum posse ad salutem alterius ... parum potuisse ad exitium, Cic. Opp. ap. Amm. 30, 8, 7.—
2. In gen., and without neutr. acc. (late Lat.): posse litteras ejus ad perniciem, non posse ad salutem, App. Mag. 79, p. 324.—
B. Posse aliquem, to be able to embrace one (poet.), Mart. 3, 32.—
C. Posse as subst. (poet.): posse loqui, the power of speech, Ov. M. 2, 483: posse moveri = facultatem se movendi, id. ib. 11, 177.—
D. Freq. in elliptical sentences: quod vi non poterant, fraude assequi temptant, Curt. 5, 10, 8: Ismenias, etsi publicis non poterat, privatis tamen viribus adjuvabat, Just. 5, 9, 8: ut auxilium quod misericordiā non poterat, jure cognationis obtineret, id. 28, 1, 9: ut collegam vi, si aliter non possent, de foro abducerent, Liv. 2, 56.—
E. In apodosis of conditional sentences, analogous to the auxiliaries of the Engl. potential mood (v. Roby, § 1520; Zumpt, § 519).
1. Indic.: ille potuit exspectatior venire, qui te nuntiaret mortuom (= si quis nuntiaret, etc.), Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 12: nec vero ipsam amicitiam tueri possumus, nisi aeque amicos et nosmet ipsos diligamus, Cic. Fin. 1, 20, 67: Pompeius munitiones Caesaris prohibere non poterat, nisi praelio decertare vellet, Caes. B. C. 3, 44: consul esse qui potui, nisi eum vitae cursum tenuissem, Cic. Rep. 1, 6, 10: (res publica) poterat esse perpetua, si patriis viveretur institutis, id. ib. 3, 29, 41: deleri totus exercitus potuit, si fugientis persecuti victores essent, Liv. 32, 12, 6: nisi felicitas in socordiam vertisset exuere jugum potuerunt, Tac. Agr. 31.—
2. Subj.: qui denique ex bestiis fructus, nisi homines adjuvarent, percipi posset, Cic. Off. 2, 4, 14; cf.: ventum quidem erat eo, ut, si hostem similem antiquis Macedonum regibus habuisset consul, magna clades accipi potuerit, Liv. 44, 4, 9.—So when the condition is implied, or is contained in an adverbial clause: quae res egestati et aeri alieno tuo praeter mortem Caesaris subvenire potuisset? Cic. Phil. 2, 14, 36: quis opifex praeter naturam ... tantam sollertiam persequi potuisset in sensibus? id. N. D. 2, 57, 142; id. Tusc. 4, 19, 44: plurima proferre possemus, sed modus adhibendus est, Nep. Epam. 4, 6: possem hic Ciceronis respondere verbis, sed, etc., Quint. 2, 21, 14.—Hence, pŏtens, entis (gen. plur. potentum, Verg. A. 12, 519; Claud. Laud. Stil. 2, 114), P. a.
A. In gen., able, mighty, powerful, potent (class.): amplae atque potentes civitates, Cic. Inv. 2, 56, 169: familiae clarae ac potentes, Liv. 23, 4: amici magni et potentes, Suet. Aug. 56: ne quis ex plebe contra potentiorem auxilii egeret, Caes. B. G. 6, 10: duo potentissimi reges, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 2, 4: potentissimus et clarissimus civis, id. Planc. 21, 51.—
(b). With gen.: quanta sit humani ingenii vis, quam potens efficiendi quae velit, Quint. 12, 11, 10.—
(g). With abl.: Roma potens opibus, Ov. F. 4, 255: pecuniā et orbitate, Tac. H. 1, 73.—
(d). With inf.: compensare potens, Dig. 16, 2, 10.—
B. In partic.
1. Having power over, ruling over, master of a thing; with gen.: dum liber, dum mei potens sum, as long as I am my own master, Liv. 26, 13, 14: sanus mentisque potens, in his right mind, Ov. Tr. 2, 139: potens mei non eram, Curt. 4, 13, 23: potentes rerum suarum atque urbis, having made themselves masters of, Liv. 23, 16, 6; so, facere aliquem potentem alicujus rei, to make one master of any thing, to give one the power over a thing: consilii, id. 8, 13, 14: imperii, id. 22, 42, 12: diva potens Cypri, that reigns over Cyprus, i.e. Venus, Hor. C. 1, 3, 1: Naïadum potens (Bacchus), id. ib. 3, 25, 14: silvarum potens Diana, id. C. S. 1: diva potens uteri, i.e. Lucina, Ov. M. 9, 315: rerum omnium potens Juppiter, Tac. H. 4, 84: lyrae Musa potens, that presides over lyric poetry, Hor. C. 1, 6, 10: irae, master of his anger, Curt. 4, 2, 5: mariti, ruling her husband, Tac. A. 14, 60: animal potens leti, that can kill, deadly, Luc. 6, 485; cf. id. 5, 199 Corte ad loc.—
2. Fit for, capable of any thing; with gen.: potens regni, Liv. 24, 2: hostes neque pugnae, neque fugae satis potentes caeduntur, unable either to fight or flee, id. 8, 39.—
3. Partaking of, having attained a thing; with gen. (poet.): pacis potentes, Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 9: voti, Ov. M. 8, 80: jussi, having fulfilled the command, id. ib. 4, 509.—
4. Strong, mighty, powerful, efficacious, potent (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose): fortuna in res bellicas potens, Liv. 9, 17: herba potens ad opem, Ov. H. 5, 147: verba, id. Am. 3, 11, 31: herba potens adversus ranas, Plin. 25, 10, 81, § 130: passum ex uvis contra haemorrhoida potens, id. 23, 1, 12, § 15.—Comp.: nihil esse potentius auro, Ov. Am. 3, 8, 29: quaedam ad efficiendum potentiora, Quint. 6, 1, 26.—Sup.: potentissimae cantharides, Plin. 29, 4, 30, § 94: argumenta, Quint. 6, 4, 22.—Hence, adv.: pŏtenter, strongly, mightily, powerfully, effectually (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): se ipsam potenter atque efficaciter defendere, Val. Max. 1, 1, 1: dicere, Quint. 12, 10, 72. —Comp.: aurum ... perrumpere amat saxa potentius Ictu fulmineo, Hor. C. 3, 16, 9; Quint. 6, 4, 18.—
B. According to one's ability or powers (poet.): lecta potenter res, Hor. A. P. 40.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pótis
  2. Proto-Italic*potis
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₁es-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ésti
  5. Proto-Indo-European*bʰuH-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*bʰúHt
  7. Proto-Italic*som
  8. Proto-Italic*possom
  9. Latinpossum

From Proto-Italic *possom, from *potis (“master in control of”) + *som (“to be”). By surface analysis, potis + sum. Cognates include Oscan 𐌐𐌞𐌕𐌝𐌀𐌃 (pútíad, “to be able”) and South Picene puti (“I could”).

Balkano-Romance
  • Romanianputea
  • Romanianputere
  • Aromanianpot
  • Aromanianputeari
  • Istro-Romanianputę
  • Megleno-Romanianpot
  • Megleno-Romanianputeari
  • Megleno-Romanianputęri
Southern Gallo-Romance
  • Catalanpoder
  • Occitanpoderfrom Old Occitan poder
Ibero-Romance
  • Portuguesepoderfrom Old Galician-Portuguese poder
  • Spanishpoder
  • Aragonesepoder
  • Galicianpoderfrom Old Galician-Portuguese poder
  • Asturianpoder
  • Leonesepodere
  • Extremaduranpoel
Italo-Dalmatian
  • Italianpotere
  • Galluresepudéfrom Corsican putè
  • Sassaresepudéfrom Corsican putè
  • Dalmatianpotar
  • Istriotpudì
  • Neapolitanpotere
  • Sicilianputiri
  • Venetanpoder
Rhaeto-Romance
  • Friulianpodê
  • Ladinpodei
  • Romanshpudair
  • Romanshpuder
  • Romanshpudeir
Gallo-Italic
  • Emilianpsair
  • Ligurianpoéi
  • Lombardpodè
  • Piedmontesepodej
Northern Gallo-Romance
  • Franco-Provençalpovêr
  • Old Frenchpooir
Insular Romance
  • Campidanesepodi
  • Campidanesepodiri
  • Campidanesepori
  • Campidaneseporri
  • Campidaneseporriri
  • Nuoresepoterefrom Logudorese podere
  • Nuoresepoderefrom Logudorese podere

In English words that came into English from possum

  • powerposso
  • possiblepossibilis
  • potentialpotentialis
  • omnipotentomnipotēns
  • possibilitypossibilitās
  • potencypotentia
  • potentpotens
  • potentatepotentātus
  • impotentimpotēns
  • impotenceimpotentia
  • omnipotenceomnipotentia
  • potentillapotentilla
  • plenipotentiaryplēnipotentiārius
  • puissantposse
  • ventripotentventer
  • plenipotentplenus
  • viripotentvir
  • prepotentpraepotens
  • armipotentarmipotēns
  • potencepotentia
  • omnipotencyomnipotentia
  • bellipotentbellipotēns
  • ignipotentignipotens
  • pennipotentpennipotens

Quick answers

What does possum mean in Latin?
possum, a verb, means “be able to, can, may; in the 3rd person singular (pote est): it may be, it is possible; to have influence or efficacy, to avail, to have power over, to have mastery of, to rule over”.
What are the principal parts of possum?
possum, posse, potuī (irregular conjugation, suppletive, impersonal in the passive in Old Latin, no gerund).
How do you pronounce possum?
In classical Latin, [ˈpɔs.sũː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈpɔs.sum].
Where does possum come from?
Proto-Indo-European *pótis → Proto-Italic *potis → Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- → Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésti → Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- → Proto-Indo-European *bʰúHt → Proto-Italic *som → Proto-Italic *possom → Latin possum.
Which English words come from possum?
English words that go back to Latin possum include power, potent, puissant, ventripotent, plenipotent and viripotent.