The meaning of モテる


I have read what it says [in this
post](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/65901/what-is-the-
etymology-of-%E3%83%A2%E3%83%86%E3%82%8B/65902#65902) but it's old and I would
like to hear other opinions. It's interesting that I have found this meaning
on Weblio:  
(esp. as 持ってる) to have "it"; to have that special something; to be blessed
with good luck.  
When I explain words to my friends who don't know Japanese I give them a
literal translation and explain how some words came to have a certain meaning.  
How would you explain モテる which comes from the word 持つ？




There are three similar-looking but different expressions.

  * **モテる** : "to be popular (usu. with opposite sex)" (usually written with katakana; originally slang, but very common now; from the potential form of 持つ; for details, see [the post you linked](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/65901/5010)) 

> 彼は年上にモテる。  
>  He's popular with older people.

  * [**持ってる**](https://dic.pixiv.net/a/%E6%8C%81%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%82%8B): "to have good luck", "to have that special something" (usually in kanji; relatively recent slang (since circa 2010); contracted form of 持っている) 

> 宝くじ当たったの？ 持ってるねえ。  
>  You won the lottery? Luck's on your side!

  * **持てる** : "to be wealthy", "which one owns" (stiff literary expression; from the realis form of 持つ followed by the attributive form of the [archaic auxiliary り](https://www.hello-school.net/haroajapa009007.htm); i.e., archaic version of 持っている) 

> 持てる者と持たざる者  
>  haves and have-nots
>
> 持てる力を振り絞る  
>  to use all one's strength

They derived from 持つ in different ways in different ages. In particular, モテる
and 持ってる are totally different expressions to me, and you should not mix them.
(Of course they sound totally different, too.) モテる is a fairly old word and I
don't think the post you linked is outdated.

