An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Vermögen

by Friedrich Kluge

Vermögen, n., ‘ability, power, wealth,’ from MidHG. vermügen, n., ‘power, might, capability,’ An infinit. used as a subst., MidHG. vermägen, vermugen, ‘to be in a position, have power,’ OHG. furimugan; allied to mögen, Macht. The prep. vermöge, ‘in virtue of’ (ModHG. only), is based on MidHG. vermüge, f., ‘might, power,’ and is developed like kraft.