powere

Powere is a historical spelling of the English noun power. It appears in Middle English and Early Modern English texts as an alternative form to the modern spelling power, conveying the same range of meanings. In usage, powere could refer to physical strength, political authority, energy, or capacity. It was found in legal charters, religious writings, and poetry, where the sense was understood from context much as it is today.

Etymology and orthography: Powere shares the same linguistic ancestry as power, tracing back to Latin roots such as potentia and related Old French forms that express the notion of ability or control. The final -e in powere reflects historical orthographic conventions that sometimes marked a long vowel or served as a conventional ending. Over time, spelling standardization favored the contraction to power in print and education, reducing the use of powere in formal writing.

Modern status and usage: By the Early Modern period, powere largely disappeared as a distinct spelling, with power becoming the prevailing form in English. Today, powere is studied primarily in historical linguistics and lexicography as an example of orthographic variation. The concept remains identical to its modern counterpart, and the word continues to appear in discussions of energy, influence, and authority under the standard spelling power. See also power, Middle English, orthography.