"Potential" is a word in LAW AND LEGAL, ENGLISH

Existing in possibility but not in act; naturally and probably expected to come into existence at some future time, though not now existing; for example, the future product of grain or trees already planted, or the successive future instalments or payments on a coutract or engagement al-ready made. Things having a “potential existence'’ may be the subject of mortgage, aa

Anything that may be possible; a possibility;
potentially.

The energy of an electrical charge measured by its power
to do work; hence, the degree of electrification as referred to some
standard, as that of the earth; electro-motive force.

Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result;
efficacious; influential.

Existing in possibility, not in actuality.

In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces acting
in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates which determine the
position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with
respect to the coordinates are equal to the components of the force at
the point considered; -- also called potential function, or force
function. It is called also Newtonian potential when the force is
directed to a fixed center and is inversely as the square of the
distance from the center.