Introduction

Proto-Indo-European *pótis: "head of household, master, husband"—which I have a tendency to anglicize as a homophone of POTUS—is the origin of words like "despot", "non compos mentis", and "nepotism".

Teaser

Poseidon, power, possible, possible, hospitality, possess, nephew, nepotism, Neptune

Full Text

• Proto-Indo-European *pótis husband, master of household, self?

  • Pre-Albanian *pati

    • Albanian pata had suppletive aorist, optative, and admirative forms of kam
  • Hellenic *pótis

    • Hellenic *Poti Gdaone Divine name: Husband of the Earth? vocative ^[1]

      • Mycenaean Greek 𐀡𐀮𐀆𐀺𐀚 po-se-da-wo-ne Divine name: Poseidon ^[1]

        • Classical Greek Ποσειδῶν Poseidôn ^[1]

          • English Poseidon ^[1]
    • Classical Greek πόσις pósis husband
  • Indo-Iranian *pátiš

    • Indo-Aryan *pátiṣ

      • Sanskrit 𑀧𑀢𑀺 pati husband, lord, master, owner, sovereign

        • Magadhi

          • Assamese পৈ poi husband
        • Sauraseni

          • Nepali पोइ poi husband
        • Hindi पति pati husband, master, lord

          • Hindi करोड़पति karoṛpati person worth more than 10 million (crore) rupees, millionaire
        • Kawi

          • Javanese ꦥꦠꦶꦃ patih vizier, queen (chess)
          • Malay patih mister, vizier, prime minister
        • Pali 𑀧𑀢𑀺 pati

          • Khmer ប្ដី pdəy husband
        • Sanskrit 𑀅𑀥𑀺𑀧𑀢𑀺 adhipati ruler, commander, king lit. "over-lord"

          • Kawi

            • Javanese ꦲꦢꦶꦥꦠꦶ adipati king, regent, sovereign
          • Pali 𑀅𑀥𑀺𑀧𑀢𑀺 adhipati

            • Khmer អធិបតី ʼaʼthipaʼdəy chief, chairman, president
            • Thai อธิบดี à-típ-bɔɔ-dii overlord, king of kings, suzerain, supervisor, chief executive, chief justice
    • Iranian *pátiš

      • Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌 paiti husband, lord, master
      • Western Iranian *patiš

        • Northwestern Iranian

          • Medean *patiš

            • Elamite 𒁁𒋾𒆜 bat-ti-iš
          • Parthian 𐭐𐭕𐭉 pty

            • Old Armenian պետ pet chief, commander

              • Armenian պետ pet chief, commander
              • Old Georgian პეტობა ṗeṭoba lordship, supremacy
        • Old Persian

          • Middle Persian *padi-

            • Middle Persian pādišāh
            • Middle Persian -𐭯𐭲𐭩 -pty -lord, -master

              • Persian ـبد -bod -lord, -master
        • Western Iranian *dasa-patiš ten-commander

          • Medean *δasapatiš

            • Elamite 𒆪𒐼𒁁𒋾𒆜 da-šá-bat-ti-iš
          • Old Persian *daθapatiš

            • Elamite 𒆪𒊓𒁁𒋾𒆜 da-sa-bat-ti-iš
            • Classical Greek δεκάρχος dekárkhos
            • Old Persian *pašcadaθapatiš deputy ten-commander

              • Elamite bašzadasabattišbe
        • Western Iranian *sata-patiš hundred-commander

          • Old Persian *θata-patiš

            • Elamite 𒊓𒀜𒆪𒁁𒋾𒆜 sa-ad-da-bat-ti-iš
            • Classical Greek ἑκατόνταρχος commander of a hundred, centurion
        • Western Iranian *hazára-pátiš thousand-commander

          • Northwestern Iranian

            • Medean *hazārapatiš commander of a thousand ^[2]

              • Old Persian *hazārapatiš

                • Middle Persian 𐭧𐭦𐭠𐭫𐭥𐭯𐭲 ḥzʾlʿpt

                  • Persian هزاربد hezârbod
                • Classical Greek ἀζαραπατεῖς azarapateîs
                • Classical Greek ἀζαβαρίτης azabarítēs
                • Classical Greek χιλίαρχος khilíarkhos commander of a thousand, tribune, chiliarch ^[2]

                  • Gothic 𐌸𐌿𐍃𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌹𐍆𐌰𐌸𐍃 þūsundifaþs commander of a thousand, tribune ^[2]
                  • Latin chiliarchus
                  • Classical Syriac ܟܝܠܝܪܟܐ kilirka
            • Parthian 𐭇𐭆𐭓𐭅𐭐𐭕 hazārpet

              • Old Armenian հազարապետ hazarapet chiliarch

                • Armenian հազարապետ hazarapet chiliarch
                • Georgian ჰაზარაპეტი hazaraṗeṭi
        • Western Iranian *fšu-pátiš shepherd, sheep-commander

          • Northwestern Iranian

            • Old Armenian շպետ špet shepherd

              • Georgian შპეტი šṗeṭi shepherd
        • Western Iranian *magu-pátiš head magus, high priest

          • Northwestern Iranian

            • Medean *magu-patiš

              • Old Persian

                • Middle Persian 𐭬𐭢𐭥𐭯𐭲 mgwpt Zoroastrian priest, mobad

                  • Persian موبد mobad mobad

                    • English mobad
          • Western Iranian *špada-patiš general, army-commander add more descendants and borrowings

            • Northwestern Iranian

              • Medean *aspāδapatiš

                • Old Armenian ասպարապետ asparapet

                  • Old Armenian սպարապետ sparapet
                  • English sparapet
              • Parthian 𐭎𐭐𐭀𐭃𐭐𐭕𐭉 spʾdpty

                • Old Armenian սպարապետ sparapet
            • Old Persian

              • Middle Persian 𐭮𐭯𐭠𐭧𐭯𐭲 spʾḥpt

                • Persian سپهبد sepahbod
                • Persian اسپهبد espahbod
                • Old Armenian սպայապետ spayapet

                  • Old Georgian სპაჲპეტი sṗayṗeṭi
                • English spahbed
  • Proto-Indo-European *pótnih₂

    • Balto-Slavic *patī

      • Baltic

        • East Baltic

          • Lithuanian pati wife, oneself, myself, herself
    • Hellenic *pótnia

      • Mycenaean Greek 𐀡𐀴𐀛𐀊 po-ti-ni-ja lady, divine name/epithet: Lady
      • Classical Greek πότνια pótnia mistress, lady
    • Indo-Iranian *pátniH

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit 𑀧𑀢𑁆𑀦𑀻 pátnī wife, mistress, lady

          • Bengali পত্নী potni wife
          • Hindi पत्नी patnī wife
          • Telugu పత్ని patni wife
      • Indo-Iranian *sapátniH co-wife

        • Indo-Aryan *sapátniH

          • Sanskrit 𑀲𑀧𑀢𑁆𑀦𑀻 sapátnī co-wife

            • Maharashtri 𑀲𑀯𑀢𑁆𑀢𑀻 savattī

              • Marathi सवत savat co-wife
            • Pali 𑀲𑀧𑀢𑁆𑀢𑀻 sapattī co-wife
            • Sauraseni 𑀲𑀉𑀢𑁆𑀢𑀻 saüttī

              • Madhya Sauraseni

                • Hindi सौत saut co-wife

                  • Hindi सौतेला sautelā from a different wife, step-, half-
        • Iranian *hapáθniH

          • Avestan 𐬵𐬀𐬞𐬀𐬚𐬥𐬍 hapaθnī co-wife, concubine
          • Northern Iranian

            • Ossetian бин bin
          • Pashto بن ben co-wife
          • Western Iranian

            • Northwestern Iranian

              • Kurdish ھەوێ hewê co-wife
              • Parthian 𐭀𐭁𐭅𐭂 ābūg
              • Persian آموسنی āmwisnī co-wife

                • Old Armenian ամուսին amusin consort, spouse, married

                  • Armenian ամուսին amusin husband, spouse
            • Old Persian

              • Middle Persian 𐭤𐭡𐭥𐭪 hbok

                • Persian هوو havu co-wife
  • Northwest Indo-European *potis

    • Northwest Indo-European *gʰóstipotis guest-master, host

      • Balto-Slavic

        • Slavic *gospodь lord, liege

          • East Slavic господь gospodĭ lord, master

            • Russian Госпо́дь Gospódʹ Lord, God
            • Russian осподи́н gospodín gentleman, Mr., master
          • South Slavic

            • Old Church Slavonic господь gospodĭ lord, master
            • Serbo-Croatian Го̏спод Gȍspod Lord, God, Jesus
      • Italic *hostipotis

        • Latin hospes host, guest, visitor, stranger

          • Central Romance

            • Italian ospite host, guest
          • Eastern Romance

            • Romanian oaspete guest
          • Western Romance

            • Old French oste innkeeper, landlord, host

              • French hôte host, guest, innkeeper
              • English host someone giving hospitality
              • Italian oste innkeeper
            • Spanish huésped guest, lodger
          • Latin hospitālis hospitable, generous, pertaining to hospitality or hosts

            • Latin hospitāle guesthouse, guestroom, hospital

              • Central Romance

                • Italian ospedale hospital
              • Western Romance

                • Old French ostel shelter, place to stay

                  • French hôtel mansion, townhouse, hotel

                    • English hotel
                    • Italian hotel hotel
                    • Spanish hotel hotel
                  • English hostel
                • Old Occitan ostal

                  • Occitan ostal house
                  • Spanish hostal hostel
              • Old French hospital

                • French hôpital
                • English hospital
              • Italian ospitale hospitable, friendly, welcome
              • Spanish hospital hospital
            • Latin hospitalitas

              • Central Romance

                • Italian ospitalità hospitality
              • Western Romance

                • French hospitalité hospitality

                  • English hospitality
                • Spanish hospitalidad hospitality
          • Latin hospitium hospitality, friendship, lodgings, poor-house

            • Central Romance

              • Italian ospizio nursing home, hospice
            • Eastern Romance

              • Romanian ospăț feast, banquet
            • Western Romance

              • French hospice hospice

                • English hospice
            • Koine Greek ὁσπίτιον hospítion

              • Byzantine Greek σπίτιν spítin

                • Greek σπίτι spíti house, home
            • Welsh ysbyty hospital
    • Balto-Slavic *patis

      • Baltic

        • East Baltic

          • Lithuanian pàts husband, oneself, myself, himself
      • Balto-Slavic *pati-bḗˀgāˀ husband-fleeing

        • Slavic *potьběga divorced woman

          • East Slavic

            • Russian подпега podpega
          • South Slavic

            • Old Church Slavonic подъбѣга podŭběga
          • West Slavic

            • Czech podběha concubine
            • Old Polish poćbiega tramp, vagabond
    • Germanic *fadiz master, commander, lord, husband

      • East Germanic

        • Gothic *faþs

          • Gothic 𐌱𐍂𐌿𐌸𐍆𐌰𐌸𐍃 brūþfaþs bridegroom
          • Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌰𐍆𐌰𐌸𐍃 hundafaþs centurion
          • Gothic 𐌸𐌿𐍃𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌹𐍆𐌰𐌸𐍃 þūsundifaþs commander of a thousand, tribune ^[2]
      • North Germanic

        • Old Norse *fǫðr

          • Old Norse Alfǫðr divine epithet: Mighty Lord or Lord of All (of Odin)
    • Italic *potis master, in control of, able

      • Latin potis able, possible
      • Italic *pot-essi to be master of, to be able

        • Oscan 𐌐𐌖𐌕𐌉𐌉𐌀𐌃 putiiad may he be able to attested in 3sg subjunctive, equivalent to Latin possit
        • Latin potesse to be able, can, may

          • Vulgar Latin potere

            • Central Romance

              • Dalmatian potar can, to be able
              • Italian potere can, may, to be able, to be possible
            • Eastern Romance

              • Romanian a putea to be able, can, may, to be possible
              • Romanian putere ability, power, strength, means
            • Insular Romance

              • Sardinian podi
            • Western Romance

              • Old French pooir can, to be able

                • French pouvoir can, to be able, may
                • English power

                  • Welsh pŵer power
              • Spanish poder to be able, can
          • Latin posse ability, power, force

            • Latin posse comitatus

              • English posse
        • Italic *pot-iðlis masterable

          • Latin possibilis possible

            • English possible
        • Italic *potistāts mastery

          • Latin potestas

            • Central Romance

              • Italian potestà

                • Italian podestà
                • Italian Podestà occupational surname: Mayor

                  • English Podesta
        • Italic *poti-sedezi

          • Latin possidere to have, to own, to possess, to occupy, to control literally "able to sit (on

            • Central Romance

              • Italian possedere to possess, to own, to master
            • Western Romance

              • Old French posseoir

                • English possess
              • Spanish poseer to possess, to own
            • French posséder to own, to possess
        • Italic *potēnts able, masterful

          • Latin potens able, powerful, potent

            • English potent
            • Latin potentatus

              • English potentate
          • Oscan 𐌐𐌞𐌕𐌝𐌀𐌍𐌔 pútíans
        • Italic *kompotis

          • Latin compos

            • Latin non compos mentis
  • Proto-Indo-European *wiḱpótis head of household, lord, chief

    • Pre-Albanian *dzwāpt

      • Albanian zot master, boss, lord, sir, Mr.
    • Balto-Slavic *wiśpatis

      • East Baltic

        • Lithuanian viēšpats lord
    • Indo-Iranian *wićpátiš

      • Indo-Aryan *wiśpátiṣ

        • Sanskrit 𑀯𑀺𑀰𑁆𑀧𑀢𑀺 viśpáti chief, headman
      • Iranian *wicpátih

        • Avestan 𐬬𐬍𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌 vīspaiti chief, master
    • Tocharian

      • Arshian wikpots chief, master
    • Proto-Indo-European *wiḱpótnih mistress of the settlement, lady

      • Pre-Albanian *dzwāptnjā

        • Albanian zonjë lady, Mrs.

          • Albanian zonjë e mirë smallpox
      • Balto-Slavic

        • Baltic

          • East Baltic

            • Lithuanian viēšpati lady, mistress, queen
          • West Baltic

            • Old Prussian waispattin mistress of household
      • Indo-Iranian *wićpátniH

        • Indo-Aryan *wiśpátniH

          • Sanskrit 𑀯𑀺𑀰𑁆𑀧𑀢𑁆𑀦𑀻 viśpátnī mistress of household, lady
  • Proto-Indo-European *déms pótis master of the house

    • Hellenic *déspotis

      • Classical Greek δεσπότης despotes house-master, slave-owner

        • Greek δεσπότης despótis despot, tyrant, lord, bishop, master

          • Medieval Latin despota

            • French despote

              • English despot
        • Classical Greek ἀδέσποτος adéspotos without master or owner, authorless, ungovernable

          • Greek αδέσποτος adéspotos ownerless, stray (animal), undirected, stray (projectile)
    • Indo-Iranian *dámspatiš

      • Indo-Aryan *dámspatiṣ

        • Sanskrit 𑀤𑀫𑁆𑀧𑀢𑀺 dámpati master of the house

          • Sanskrit 𑀤𑀫𑁆𑀧𑀢𑀻 dampatī husband and wife dual

            • Hindi दंपति dampati husband and wife, married couple
            • Kawi 𑼣𑼪𑽁𑼦𑼡𑼷 dampatī husband and wife, a couple, a pair
            • Telugu దంపతులు dampatulu husband and wife
      • Iranian *dámspatiṣ

        • Avestan 𐬛𐬇𐬧𐬔⸱𐬞𐬀𐬙𐬋𐬌𐬴 də̄ṇg.patōiṣ̌ master of the house
    • Proto-Indo-European *déms potnih₂ mistress of the house

      • Hellenic *déspoňňa

        • Classical Greek δέσποινα déspoina lady, mistress, queen, princess

          • Greek δέσποινα déspoina Miss (style of address), hostess, lady

            • Greek δεσποινίς desponís

              • Greek δις dis Miss, Ms. (abbreviation)
          • Classical Greek Δέσποινα Déspoina divine epithet, daughter of Demeter and Poseidon
          • Greek Δέσποινα Déspoina personal name: Lady, divine epithet: Our Lady (of Mary)
          • English Despoina
      • Indo-Iranian *dmáHnas pátniH

        • Iranian *dmaHnapaθniH mistress of the house

          • Avestan 𐬛𐬆𐬨𐬄𐬥𐬋⸱𐬞𐬀𐬚𐬥𐬍 dəmąnō.paθnī
          • Northern Iranian

            • Sogdian 𐫔𐫂𐫀𐫖𐫁𐫀𐫗 δβʾmbʾn lady, queen
          • Pashto مېرمنه mermëna lady, woman, wife
          • Western Iranian *manapaθni

            • Northwestern Iranian

              • Parthian 𐭁𐭀𐭌𐭁𐭉𐭔𐭍 bāmbīšn lady, queen more often written as an aramaeogram: 𐭌𐭋𐭊𐭕𐭄 mlkth

                • Old Armenian բամբիշ(ն) bambiš(n) lady, queen

                  • Armenian բամբիշ bambiš lady, queen
            • Old Persian *mānapašnī

              • Middle Persian 𐭡𐭠𐭬𐭡𐭱𐭭 bāmbšn queen more often written as an aramaeogram: 𐭬𐭫𐭪𐭲𐭠 mlkta

                • Middle Chinese 防步率 buaŋ bɔh ʂwih Sasanian royal wife or concubine
  • Proto-Indo-European *(h₂)népōt(iyo)s grandson, descendant ^[3]

    • Pre-Albanian *nepō

      • Albanian nip nephew, grandson
      • Pre-Albanian *nepōtś(i)ā

        • Albanian mbesë niece, grandaughter
    • Hellenic *hənepťios? ^[3]

      • Classical Greek ἀνεψιός anepsiós (first) cousin ^[3]

        • Greek ανιψιός anipsiós nephew
        • Byzantine Greek ἀνεψιν nephew, niece diminutive

          • Greek ανίψι anípsi nephew, niece
          • Pontic Greek ανέψι anépši

            • Laz ანიმსე animse nephew, niece
    • Hellenic *nepťios? ^[3]

      • Hellenic *he-nepťios? ^[3]

        • Classical Greek ἀνεψιός anepsiós (first) cousin ^[3]

          • Greek ανιψιός anipsiós nephew
          • Byzantine Greek ἀνεψιν nephew, niece diminutive

            • Greek ανίψι anípsi nephew, niece
            • Pontic Greek ανέψι anépši

              • Laz ანიმსე animse nephew, niece
    • Indo-Iranian *(H)nápāts grandson, descendant

      • Indo-Aryan

        • Sanskrit 𑀦𑀧𑀸𑀢𑁆 descendant, grandson, son

          • Northwestern Sauraseni

            • Kalasha nawáw grandchild
      • Iranian nápāth

        • Avestan 𐬥𐬀𐬞𐬁𐬝 napāt̰
        • Western Iranian

          • Northwestern Iranian

            • Kurdish nevî grandchild
          • Old Persian 𐎴𐎱𐎠 n-p-a grandson

            • Middle Persian 𐭭𐭡 nb

              • Persian نوه nave grandchild
      • Indo-Iranian *(H)nápātkás

        • Nuristani *napāká

          • Ashkun nëvë grandson
          • Kamviri navo grandson
      • Indo-Iranian *HápaHam nápāts divine name: descendant of waters

        • Indo-Aryan *Hapā́m nápāts

          • Vedic Sanskrit 𑀅𑀧𑀸𑀁 𑀦𑀧𑀸𑀢𑁆 apā́ṃ nápāt Apam Napat
        • Iranian *Hapā́m napāts

          • Avestan 𐬀𐬞𐬄𐬨 𐬥𐬀𐬞𐬁𐬙 apąm napāt Apam Napat
    • Northwest Indo-European népōt(iyo)s grandson, nephew

      • Balto-Slavic *nepātjas

        • Baltic

          • East Baltic

            • Old Lithuanian nepuotis grandchild
          • Finnic *nëpada

            • Estonian nõbu cousin
            • Finnish nepaa cousin (archaic)
        • Slavic *ne(p)tьjь nephew

          • East Slavic

            • Ukrainian нетии netyy
          • South Slavic

            • Serbo-Croatian нећак nećak nephew
          • West Slavic

            • Old Polish nieć nephew
      • Celtic *neɸūts nephew

        • Brythonic *nei

          • Welsh nai nephew

            • Welsh neigarwch nepotism
        • Primitive Irish ᚅᚔᚑᚈᚈᚐ niotta (sororal) nephew's attested in genitive

          • Old Irish nia (sororal) nephew

            • Irish nia nephew
        • Celtic *kom-neɸūts

          • Brythonic *köβ̃n

            • Welsh caifn distant cousin (archaic)
      • Germanic *nefōd

        • Germanic *nefô nephew, grandson

          • North Germanic

            • Old Norse nefi nephew, kinsman
          • West Germanic *nefō

            • Old English nefa nephew, grandson, stepson

              • English neve
            • Frankish *nevo

              • Dutch neef cousin, nephew
            • Old High German nevo

              • German Neffe nephew
      • Italic *nepōts

        • Latin nepos grandson, nephew, descendant oblique nepot-

          • Central Romance

            • Dalmatian nepaut grandson, nephew
            • Italian nipote grandchild, nephew or niece

              • Italian nepotismo nepotism originally, the phenomenon of popes appointing their nephews as cardinals

                • French népotisme

                  • English nepotism
          • Eastern Romance

            • Romanian nepot grandson, nephew, descendant
          • Insular Romance

            • Sardinian nabodi
          • Western Romance

            • Old French nevod early Old French

              • Old French neveu late Old French

                • French neveu
                • English nephew
          • Latin Nechtan nepos Uerb
        • Italic *neptōnos or *neptūnos if not from *nepōts ^[4]

          • Albanian nip nephew, grandson
          • Latin Neptunus divine name: Neptune ^[4]

            • Western Romance

              • Old French netun marine monster

                • French lutin imp, pixie
            • English Neptune ^[4]
    • Proto-Indo-European *néptih₂ granddaughter

      • Indo-Iranian *náptiH

        • Indo-Aryan *naptíH

          • Sanskrit 𑀦𑀧𑁆𑀢𑀻 naptī́ granddaughter

            • Prakrit 𑀡𑀢𑁆𑀢𑀻 ṇattī

              • Maharashtri

                • Marathi नात nāt granddaughter
        • Iranian *náptiH

          • Avestan 𐬥𐬀𐬞𐬙𐬍 naptī
      • Northwest Indo-European *neptis granddaughter, niece

        • Celtic *nextī niece

          • Brythonic *nėθ niece

            • Welsh nith niece
          • Old Irish necht

            • Irish neacht niece
          • Pictish ᚅᚓᚆᚆᚈᚑᚅᚅ nehhtonn personal name

            • Old Irish Nechtan divine name
            • Old Irish *Nechtan aue Uerb

              • Latin Nechtan nepos Uerb
        • Germanic *niftiz granddaughter, niece

          • North Germanic

            • Old Norse nipt kinsowman, sister, daughter

              • Icelandic nift
          • West Germanic *nifti

            • Old English nift niece, granddaughter, stepdaughter
            • Frankish *nifta

              • Dutch nicht niece, cousin
            • Old High German nifta

              • German Nifte archaic
              • Old High German niftila diminutive

                • German Niftel archaic
        • Italic *neptis

          • Latin neptis granddaughter

            • Late Latin neptia granddaughter, niece

              • Western Romance

                • Old French niece

                  • French nièce
                  • English niece
              • Late Latin nepta granddaughter, niece

                • Central Romance

                  • Dalmatian niapta niece
                • Insular Romance

                  • Sardinian netta
                • Western Romance

                  • Spanish nieta granddaughter

                    • Spanish nieto grandson
                    • Spanish bisnieta great-grandaughter (twice-granddaughter)

Visual

Collected English words

spahbed, hospital, hospice, mobad, niece, hostel, hotel, sparapet, potentate, Neptune, despot, neve, Podesta, host, potent, possible, hospitality, possess, posse, Despoina, Poseidon, nephew, nepotism, power

Footnotes

1. ^

   I believe that Ποσειδῶν Poseidôn is fairly firmly *Poti Gdaone: "Husband of the Earth", with the divine name for the Earth *Gda(n) instead of the normal χθών khthṓn from *dʰǵʰōm (possibly from inter-dialect or Paleo-Balkan borrowing?). This is most directly supported by the Mycenaean pair of words: 𐀁𐀚𐀯𐀆𐀃𐀚 e-ne-si-da-o-ne: "Shaker of the Earth" (Classical ἐννοσίγαιος ennosígaios or ἐνοσίχθων enosíkhthōn, epithets of Poseidon) vs. 𐀡𐀮𐀆𐀺𐀚 po-se-da-wo-ne, apparently Ποσειδῶν Poseidôn.

2. ^

   The Old Medean military title *hazārapatiš: "commander of a thousand" was both borrowed into Greek as ἀζαραπατεῖς azarapateîs/ ἀζαβαρίτης azabarítēs and also calqued as χιλίαρχος khilíarkhos. Though the Greeks probably couldn't have known it, their word for a thousand—χίλιοι—is related to the Medean word *hazāram! Both are from PIE *ǵʰéslom: "numerous, thousand".

   Then! Gothic calqued the Greek χιλίαρχος khilíarkhos as 𐌸𐌿𐍃𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌹𐍆𐌰𐌸𐍃 þūsundifaþs, with a completely different word for thousand… but returning to a cognate of the Medean word for commander: faþs/patiš!

   

3. ^

   In Proto-Indo-European *(h₂)népōts, the laryngeal is reconstructed on the basis of Greek ἀνεψιός anepsiós: "(first) cousin". The alternative is that the Greek is *sm̥-neptiyos: "co-grandson" and there isn't a laryngeal (though that would be expected to be *ἁνεψιός *hanepsiós instead).

   If there is not in fact a laryngeal, *(h₂)népōts might be *né-pōts: "not the master of the household", i.e. "dependent, young unmarried relative, just some kid who lives here".)

4. ^

   Neptune could be from *n̥bʰtós: "misty, damp"—or it has been suggested that Latin Neptunus may be from *(h₂)népōts: "grandson, descendant", which is supported by parallel to the Indo-Iranian divinity Apam Napat: "Grandson of Waters". In Zoroastrianism, Apam Napat is sometimes part of a ruling triad with Ahura Mazda and Mithra, which has parallels to the triad of Zeus/Poseidon/Hades (and the Vedic Trimurti Bahma/Vishnu/Shiva).

   The Norse kenning for fire sǣvar niþr : "grandson of the sea" is suggested to continue the same theme (Apam Napat is also associated with fire emerging from water). The Homeric Greek epithet for seals is also brought to mind: νέποδες καλῆς Ἁλοσύδνης: "descendants of the beautiful Sea-Daughter".

   If all three of these possible connections hold, then Neptune is distantly related to Poseidon!