setgħa

Maltese

Root
s-t-għ
5 terms

Etymology

Verbal noun of seta’ (“can, be able”), itself from a reanalysis of Arabic اِسْتَطاعَ (istaṭāʕa). Semantically without doubt after Italian potere (“can, be able”, and as a noun “power, might, authority”), or rather its Sicilian equivalent putiri. Compare also Italian potenza, from Latin potentia. All eventually from posse (“can, be able”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛ.ta/
• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛ.taˤ/ (archaic)
• Homophone: seta’
• Rhymes: -ɛta, (archaic) -ɛtaˤ

Noun

setgħa f (plural setgħat)

1. power, might, authority
   • c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, San Mattew 28:18:

     Ġesù resaq ikellimhom u qalilhom: “Lili ngħatat kull setgħa fis-sema u fl-art. […]

     New International Version translation: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. […]

   • c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb tal-Eżodu 4:21:

     U l-Mulej qal lil Mosè: “Meta int tmur lura l-Eġittu, qis li tagħmel quddiem il-Fargħun il-mirakli li jien tajtek is-setgħa li tagħmel; iżda jien inwebbislu qalbu, u ma jħallix il-poplu jitlaq.

     New International Version translation: The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.