Potent

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈpəʊtÉ™nt/
• Rhymes: -əʊtÉ™nt

Origin

From Latin potens ("powerful, strong, potent"), present participle of posse ("to be able"), from potis ("able, powerful, originally a lord, master").

Full definition of potent

Adjective

1. Possessing strength.
   a potent argument
• 1914, Louis Joseph Vance, Nobody Chapter 1, Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence.
2. Being effective in small quantities.
   a potent medicine
3. Having a sharp or offensive taste.
4. (of a male) Able to procreate.
5. Very powerful or effective.
• William Shakespeare (1564-1616)harsh and potent injuries
• John Milton (1608-1674)Moses once more his potent rod extends.

Noun

1. (tincture) A heraldic fur formed by a regular tessellation of blue and white T shapes.
2. (obsolete) A prince; a potentate.
3. (obsolete) A staff or crutch.

Antonyms

• impotent

Related terms

• potence
• potency
• potentate
• potential
• potentiality

Derived terms

• idempotent
• nilpotent
• unipotent
• ventripotent