possum

Meaning

1. (impersonal, suppletive) be able to, can, may
2. (impersonal, suppletive) to have influence or efficacy, to avail, to have power over, to have mastery of, to rule over
3. (impersonal, suppletive) to partake of, to attain, to fulfill
4. (impersonal, suppletive) to accord to one's abilities or power

Concepts

can

be able

be able to

may

be capable

Opposite of

nequeō

Synonyms

queo

sim

evalesco

licet

scio

mihi licet

Translations

pouvoir

potere

poder

poder

μπορώ

können

poder

اِسْتَطَاعَ

mogen

dürfen

مُمْكِن

karîn

être capable de

in der Lage sein

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈpɔs.sũː]

Etymology

From Proto-Italic *possom, from *potis (“master in control of”) + *som (“I am”). By surface analysis, potis + sum. Cognates include Oscan púttiad (“they can”) and South Picene puti (“I could”).