pouvier
Norman
Alternative forms
- pouver (Jersey)
Etymology
From Old French povoir, pooir, from early Old French poeir, from Vulgar Latin *potēre (“to be able”) for Classical Latin posse, present active infinitive of possum. *Potēre was a regularized form from the root potis (“able”) or formed on the basis of the present participle potens. The v is an epenthetic consonant added to avoid hiatus.
Verb
pouvier
- (Guernsey) can, to be able to