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|lshtext=<b>possum</b>: pŏtŭi, posse,<br /><b>I</b> 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]].<br /><b>I</b> 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.—<br /><b>II</b> In partic.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> To be [[able]], to [[have]] [[influence]] or [[efficacy]], to [[avail]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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, id. 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.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In gen., and [[without]] neutr. acc. ([[late]] Lat.): posse litteras ejus ad perniciem, non posse ad salutem, App. Mag. 79, p. 324.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> Posse aliquem, to be [[able]] to [[embrace]] one ([[poet]].), Mart. 3, 32.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>C</b> Posse as subst. ([[poet]].): posse loqui, the [[power]] of [[speech]], Ov. M. 2, 483: posse moveri = facultatem se movendi, id. ib. 11, 177.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>D</b> 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.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>E</b> In [[apodosis]] of conditional sentences, [[analogous]] to the auxiliaries of the Engl. potential [[mood]] (v. Roby, § 1520; Zumpt, § 519).<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> 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.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(b)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With gen.: quanta [[sit]] humani ingenii vis, [[quam]] [[potens]] efficiendi quae velit, Quint. 12, 11, 10.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(g)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With abl.: [[Roma]] [[potens]] opibus, Ov. F. 4, 255: pecuniā et orbitate, Tac. H. 1, 73.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(d)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With inf.: compensare [[potens]], Dig. 16, 2, 10.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> In partic.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>3</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>4</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 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.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> According to one's [[ability]] or powers ([[poet]].): lecta [[potenter]] res, Hor. A. P. 40.
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