'potentially' originates from the Latin word 'potentialis', where 'potentia' meant 'power' or 'capacity'.

'potentialis' transformed into the Old French word 'potentiel', and eventually became the modern English word 'potentially'.

Initially, it meant 'having power or capacity', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'in a way that shows the capacity to develop into something in the future'.