Power of attorney
Etymology
“Power” from Latin “posse” (to be able), and “attorney” from Old French “atorne” (one appointed or assigned), from “atorner” (to turn to, appoint), from “a-” plus “torner” (to turn). An attorney here is not a lawyer but simply “one appointed” — so a power of attorney is the power granted to your appointed stand-in.
noun phrase · /POW-ur uhv uh-TUR-nee/
A legal document authorizing one person to act on another’s behalf in financial, legal, or medical matters.
What it names
The instrument that lets someone stand in your shoes when you can’t — reach for it when planning for illness, travel, or aging, so decisions can still be made in your name.
Example
Before the surgery, he signed a power of attorney letting his sister manage his finances if he couldn’t.
Related idea
Note the two flavors: a durable power of attorney stays in effect even after you become incapacitated — which is the whole point — while an ordinary one lapses exactly when you may need it most.