Etymology

potentially

P3O1T1E1N1T1I1A1L1L1Y4

Today it means: In a manner showing much potential; with the possibility of happening in a given way. Full definition →

Proto-Germanic *līką ← Proto-Indo-European *leyg- ← English potential
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pótis
  2. Proto-Italic*potis
  3. Proto-Italic*potēō
  4. Proto-Italic*potēnts
  5. Latinpotēns
  6. Latinpotentia
  7. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  9. Late Latinpotentialis
  10. Englishpotential
  11. Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
  12. Proto-Germanic*līką
  13. English todaypotentially

From potential + -ly.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.