potentiallyadv.

c1450 Art Nombryng in R. Steele Earliest Arithm. in Eng. (1922) 47 (MED) Therfor sithen þe ledynge of vnyte in hym-self ones or twies nought comethe but vnytes, Seithe Boice in Arsemetrike, that vnyte potencially is al nombre, and none in act.

1585 R. Bostocke Difference Aunc. & Latter Phisicke sig. Aii^v All thinges dwell in thee, potencially.

1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 39 b/2 The matter applyed on the bodye, actuallye combureth or potentiallye, wherfore they are called actuall or potentialle Cauteryes.

1614 J. Selden Titles of Honor Pref. B iv It's thought, that, in the Seed are alwaies potentially seuerall indiuiduating Qualities deriu'd from diuers of the neere ancestors.

1693 J. Norris Pract. Disc. Divine Subj. III. 21 Fire..is Eminently and Potentially, though not Formally hot.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Pyrotics Remedies either actually, or potentially hot.

1768 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued II. i. 54 The doctrine of atoms actually, if not potentially, indivisible.

a1822 P. B. Shelley Def. Poetry in Ess. & Lett. (1886) 29 The first acorn..contained all oaks potentially.

1864 F. C. Bowen Treat. Logic iv. 61 Every Concept must denote some existing object,—existing, that is, either really or potentially.

1904 H. James Golden Bowl I. viii. 154 The applications, the contingencies with which Mrs. Rance struck him as potentially bristling, were not of a sort, really, to be met by one's self.

1951 J. Hawkes Land viii. 149 They were men potentially our equals, poorer only in the lack of accumulated knowledge, the emotional and intellectual experience we have gained with the passage of time.

1992 Times 27 Jan. 5/2 A dealer could suffer financial loss which could potentially ruin his business.

1549 in J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (1583) II. 1381/2 The wordes of holy scripture doe worke theyr effectes potencially and thorowly by the mighty operation of the spirite of God.

1656 T. Blount Glossographia Potentially, powerfully, mightily, substantially, effectually.

1878 B. Harte Man on Beach ii. 53 ‘That settles the whole matter then,’ said Bessie potentially.

1650 Most Glorious Representation Incomparable Free Grace of Christ 6 He will not cast out, that is, he also will receive him in... Some read it potentially, and as in the present tense, I may by no meanes cast out.

1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations xlv, in All Year Round 8 June 241/2 Imperative mood, present tense: Do not thou go home, let him not go home, let us not go home... Then, potentially: I may not and I cannot go home.

1986 Bill 117 Sched. 18. i. § 3 Any reference in this Act to a potentially exempt transfer is a reference to a transfer of value..which apart from this section, would be a chargeable transfer.

2002 Which? Tax Saving Guide 60/3 Most gifts or transfers made during your lifetime..are treated as potentially exempt transfers.