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

1. (Guernsey) can, to be able to
   • 1903, Edgar MacCulloch, “Proverbs, Weather Sayings, etc.”, in Guernsey Folk Lore‎^[1], page 517:

     Va où tu peux, meurs où tu deis.

     Go where you can, die where you must.