entry
idempotent
/aɪ.dəmˈpənt/unchanged by repeated application
From Latin idem (the same) + Latin potent (powerful).
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
Word Ancestry
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
from Latin idem "the same, identical with" (see idem ) + potentem "powerful" (see potent ).
This is one of those wonderfully nerdy words that sounds as if it ought to belong in a wizard’s spellbook, but it was minted in a math paper in 1870 by Benjamin Peirce. The first half is Latin idem, “the same,” the sort of word Romans scribbled when they didn’t want to repeat themselves. The second half comes from potent, the old power word hiding in potent, potency, omnipotent, and even plenipotentiary, which is basically “fully empowered ambassador.” Put them together and you get something with the same power after every repeat — a neat little linguistic machine that says, “Do it again if you want; I’m not changing.” Tomorrow, when someone talks about an idempotent API, you can hear the ghost of Latin saying, “Same result, no drama.”
The Story
This is one of those wonderfully nerdy words that sounds as if it ought to belong in a wizard’s spellbook, but it was minted in a math paper in 1870 by Benjamin Peirce. The first half is Latin idem, “the same,” the sort of word Romans scribbled when they didn’t want to repeat themselves. The second half comes from potent, the old power word hiding in potent, potency, omnipotent, and even plenipotentiary, which is basically “fully empowered ambassador.” Put them together and you get something with the same power after every repeat — a neat little linguistic machine that says, “Do it again if you want; I’m not changing.” Tomorrow, when someone talks about an idempotent API, you can hear the ghost of Latin saying, “Same result, no drama.”
Kin & Kindred
From 'idem'·the same, identical
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'potent'·powerful, able, capable
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Free Dictionary
Wikipedia