potentially, adv.
(pəʊˈtɛnʃəlɪ)
[f. potential a. + -ly2.]
1. Powerfully, mightily; authoritatively. Now rare.
| 1549 in Foxe A. & M. (1583) 1381/2 The wordes of holy scripture doe worke theyr effectes potencially and thorowly by the mighty operation of the spirite of God. 1656 Blount Glossogr., Potentially, powerfully, mightily, substantially, effectually. 1878 B. Harte Man on Beach ii. 53 ‘That settles the whole matter then,’ said Bessie potentially. |
2. In a potential or possible manner or state; in potentiality, possibility, or capability: opposed to actually.
| c 1430 Art Nombryng 15 Seithe Boice in Arsemetrike, that vnyte potencially is al nombre, and none in act. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 39 b/2 The matter applyed on the bodye, actuallye combureth or potentiallye, wherfore they are called actuall or potentialle Cauteryes. 1614 Selden Titles Hon. Pref. B iv, It's thought, that, in the Seed are alwaies potentially seuerall indiuiduating Qualities deriu'd from diuers of the neere ancestors. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 292 The doctrine of atoms actually, if not potentially, indivisible. a 1822 Shelley Def. Poetry Essays & Lett. (Camelot Class.) 29 The first acorn..contained all oaks potentially. 1864 Bowen Logic iv. 61 Every Concept must denote some existing object,—existing, that is, either really or potentially. |
3. In the potential mood. rare.
| 1861 Dickens Gt. Expect. xlv, Imperative mood, present tense: Do not thou go home, let him not go home, let us not go home... Then, potentially: I may not and I cannot go home. |
So poˈtentialness, potentiality.
| 1668 Wilkins Real Char. 28 Potentialness, Reversion, may, can. 1727 Bailey vol. II, Potentialness, Powerfulness, Efficacy. 1930 G. Greene Two Witnesses 135 The turning of potentialness into creative life. |