Potitius

Latin

Etymology

Multiple theories relating to the standing of the Potitii in the cult of Hercules:

• Denis van Berchem suggests an archaic form of potītus, past participle of potior (“take possession”), indicating that they were slaves of the god on the model of Eastern temple practice.
• Jérôme Carcopino derives the term from Ancient Greek ποτίζω (potízō, “water, nourish”), in the sense of officiating at sacred meals.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /poˈtiː.ti.us/, [pɔˈt̪iːt̪iʊs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /poˈtit.t͡si.us/, [poˈt̪it̪ː͡s̪ius]

Proper noun

Potītius m sg (genitive Potītiī or Potītī); second declension

1. a Roman nomen gentile, gens or "family name"

Declension

Second-declension noun, singular only.

Case	Singular
Nominative	Potītius
Genitive	Potītiī Potītī1
Dative	Potītiō
Accusative	Potītium
Ablative	Potītiō
Vocative	Potītī

¹Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).

Derived terms

• Potītia

Adjective

Potītius (feminine Potītia, neuter Potītium); first/second-declension adjective

1. of or pertaining to the gens Potitia.

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

Number	Singular				Plural
Case / Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	Potītius	Potītia	Potītium		Potītiī	Potītiae	Potītia
Genitive	Potītiī	Potītiae	Potītiī		Potītiōrum	Potītiārum	Potītiōrum
Dative	Potītiō		Potītiō		Potītiīs
Accusative	Potītium	Potītiam	Potītium		Potītiōs	Potītiās	Potītia
Ablative	Potītiō	Potītiā	Potītiō		Potītiīs
Vocative	Potītie	Potītia	Potītium		Potītiī	Potītiae	Potītia

References

• “Potitius”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Potitius in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.