poten-, pot-, poss-, -potent, -potence, -potency, -potential +
(Latin: power, strength, ability, able; having authority over; rule over, command of)
puissant (adjective), more puissant, most puissant
1. Powerful or mighty: Estella saw the puissant jaws of the alligator as they gripped its prey.
2. Etymology: first from Latin posse, "be able"; from potens, "able, mighty, powerful"; then from French puissaunt and puissant.
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2. Etymology: first from Latin posse, "be able"; from potens, "able, mighty, powerful"; then from French puissaunt and puissant.
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puissantly (adverb), more puissantly, most puissantly
In a powerful manner; regarding how a person does something with great strength and stamina: Tina was puissantly running stronger and faster than her running partner.
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Although the picture is an adjective, it is used here to show what the adverb entry means.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more Mickey Bach illustrations.
An epithet pertaining to Neptune, the Roman god of the sea: Jack read about salsipotence as referring to Neptune who, in Roman mythology, was thought to be the god of water, and was later likened to the Greek Poseidon.
salsipotent (adjective), more salsipotent, most salsipotent
Pertaining to the control of power over the sea: In Roman mythology, Neptune had salsipotent sovereignty and was the Roman god of the sea.
Intelligence and very good judgement: Lynn's father certainly possessed a lot of sapientipotence in that he had accumulated a vast amount of knowledge and, with age, a great amount of wisdom.
sapientipotent (adjective), more sapientipotent, most sapientipotent
Regarding a person who has great wisdom or power derived from possessing great knowledge: In the story James was reading, the protagonist was a sapientipotent wizard who was not only extremely respected by all the people in the village, but also by those living in faraway nations.
Scientia est potentia. (Latin statement)
Knowledge is power.
Motto of Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, Florida, USA.
Sole power; a unique power: Some people believe that God is endowed with solipotence, while others think that nature possesses solipotence which certainly cannot be mastered in the long run!
The quality of something that is not powerful enough; subpotency: Mary thought that the subpotence of the painkiller wasn't helping her to get over her headache, so she went to the pharmacist's to get a stronger variety.
subpotent (adjective), more subpotent, most subpotent
1. Regarding the reduction in strength or effectiveness: The medication that Dr. Dawson gave Judy for her ailment was subpotent and not of full strength because Judy had only a slight complaint.
2. Concerning the reduction in the power to transmit hereditary characteristics: Albert read about the subpotent capacity of genetic features being passed on to one's offspring.
2. Concerning the reduction in the power to transmit hereditary characteristics: Albert read about the subpotent capacity of genetic features being passed on to one's offspring.
The condition of being highly powerful or effective: The medications with superpotency were locked away in a special cabinet in the doctor's office.
superpotent (adjective), more superpotent, most superpotent
Pertaining to something of greater than normal or acceptable effectiveness or strength: The medication that Mr. Smith had to take was superpotent in order to cure him of his very serious ailment.
1. An extremely powerful nation: A superpower, like the U.S.A. or Russia, is capable of influencing international events and the acts and policies of less powerful countries.
2. Power greater in scope or magnitude than that which is considered natural or has previously existed: Perhaps the coronavirus COVID-19 can be considered to be a superpower in that millions of people died because of it all over the world.
3. Power: A superpower can be a mechanical or electric power, on an extremely large scale secured by the linking together of a number of separate power systems, with a view to more efficient and economical generation and distribution.
2. Power greater in scope or magnitude than that which is considered natural or has previously existed: Perhaps the coronavirus COVID-19 can be considered to be a superpower in that millions of people died because of it all over the world.
3. Power: A superpower can be a mechanical or electric power, on an extremely large scale secured by the linking together of a number of separate power systems, with a view to more efficient and economical generation and distribution.
A generating facility that uses heat to produce electrical power: Thermal power plants produce electric energy from steam that has been released by water when raised to a high temperature which then spins a steam turbine that drives an electrical generator.
As with other related "plant" references, this entry is believed to be linked to the action of pressing on a shovel, or some other planting device, with the "sole of the foot" in order to work the soil for planting.
The capability of a cell to develop or create specialized cells in the process of division: In his biology class, Jack learned that totipotence was important in creating a new organism.
