Power

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pow=er

CIDE DICTIONARY

Power, n. 

 Same as Poor, the fish.  [1913 Webster]

Power, n. [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.].

•  Ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might; as, a man of great power; the power of capillary attraction; money gives power.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
•  Ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  Capacity of undergoing or suffering; fitness to be acted upon; susceptibility; -- called also passive power; as, great power of endurance.  [1913 Webster]

  "Power, then, is active and passive; faculty is active power or capacity; capacity is passive power."  [1913 Webster]
•  The exercise of a faculty; the employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government.  [1913 Webster]

  "Power is no blessing in itself but when it is employed to protect the innocent."  [1913 Webster]
•  The agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]

  "And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken."  [1913 Webster]
•  A military or naval force; an army or navy; a great host.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

  "Never such a power . . .
  Was levied in the body of a land."  [1913 Webster]
•  A large quantity; a great number; as, a power o.  Richardson.  [1913 Webster]
•  The rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power.  [1913 Webster]

  " The English unit of power used most commonly is the horse power. See Horse power."  [1913 Webster]

  " This use in mechanics, of power as a synonym for force, is improper and is becoming obsolete."  [1913 Webster]

  " Power is used adjectively, denoting, driven, or adapted to be driven, by machinery, and not actuated directly by the hand or foot; as, a power lathe; a power loom; a power press."  [1913 Webster]
•  The product arising from the multiplication of a number into itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of a number.  [1913 Webster]
•  Mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking, reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc.  I. Watts.  [1913 Webster]

  "The guiltiness of my mind, the sudden surprise of my powers, drove the grossness . . . into a received belief."  [1913 Webster]
•  The degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope, the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it multiplies the apparent surface.  [1913 Webster]
•  An authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest vested either in himself or in another person; ownership by appointment.  Wharton.  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence, vested authority to act in a given case; as, the business was referred to a committee with power.  [1913 Webster]

  " Power may be predicated of inanimate agents, like the winds and waves, electricity and magnetism, gravitation, etc., or of animal and intelligent beings; and when predicated of these beings, it may indicate physical, mental, or moral ability or capacity."  [1913 Webster]

Mechanical powers. See under Mechanical. -- Power loom, or Power press. See Def. 8 (d), note. -- Power of attorney. See under Attorney. -- Power of a point (relative to a given curve) (Geom.), the result of substituting the coördinates of any point in that expression which being put equal to zero forms the equation of the curve; as, x2 + y2 - 100 is the power of the point x, y, relative to the circle x2 + y2 - 100 = 0.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Power, n. & v.
--n.
1 the ability to do or act (will do all in my power; has the power to change colour).
2 a particular faculty of body or mind (lost the power of speech; powers of persuasion).
3 a government, influence, or authority. b political or social ascendancy or control (the party in power; Black Power).
4 authorization; delegated authority (power of attorney; police powers).
5 (often foll. by over) personal ascendancy.
6 an influential person, group, or organization (the press is a power in the land).
7 a military strength. b a state having international influence, esp. based on military strength (the leading powers).
8 vigour, energy.
9 an active property or function (has a high heating power).
10 colloq. a large number or amount (has done me a power of good).
11 the capacity for exerting mechanical force or doing work (horsepower).
12 mechanical or electrical energy as distinct from hand-labour (often attrib.: power tools; power steering).
13 a a public supply of (esp. electrical) energy. b a particular source or form of energy (hydroelectric power).
14 a mechanical force applied e.g. by means of a lever.
15 Physics the rate of energy output.
16 the product obtained when a number is multiplied by itself a certain number of times (2 to the power of 3 = 8).
17 the magnifying capacity of a lens.
18 a a deity. b (in pl.) the sixth order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
--v.tr.
1 supply with mechanical or electrical energy.
2 (foll. by up, down) increase or decrease the power supplied to (a device); switch on or off.

Idiom

in the power of under the control of. more power to your elbow! an expression of encouragement or approval. power behind the throne a person who asserts authority or influence without having formal status. power block a group of nations constituting an international political force. power cut a temporary withdrawal or failure of an electric power supply. power-dive n. a steep dive of an aircraft with the engines providing thrust.
--v.intr. perform a power-dive. power line a conductor supplying electrical power, esp. one supported by pylons or poles. power of attorney see ATTORNEY. power pack
1 a unit for supplying power.
2 the equipment for converting an alternating current (from the mains) to a direct current at a different (usu. lower) voltage.
power play
1 tactics involving the concentration of players at a particular point.
2 similar tactics in business, politics, etc., involving a concentration of resources, effort, etc. power point Brit. a socket in a wall etc. for connecting an electrical device to the mains. power politics political action based on power or influence. power-sharing a policy agreed between parties or within a coalition to share responsibility for decision-making and political action. power station a building where electrical power is generated for distribution. the powers that be those in authority (Rom. 13:1). power stroke the stroke of an internal-combustion engine, in which the piston is moved downward by the expansion of gases.

Derivative

powered adj. (also in comb.).

Etymology

ME & AF poer etc., OF poeir ult. f. L posse be able

THESAURUS

Power

Establishment, VIP, ability, able, absolute power, absolutism, acme, activity, actuate, administration, ally, ampleness, amplitude, animate, appurtenance, aptitude, archduchy, archdukedom, ascendancy, authoritative, authoritativeness, authorities, authority, authorization, baron, barrel, be-all and end-all, beef, bent, big gun, big man, big name, bigwig, birthright, bite, bitingness, blue ribbon, body politic, boundlessness, brass, brass hat, brawn, buffer state, bulk, bump, caliber, capability, capable, capacity, capital, captive nation, celebrity, championship, charisma, charm, chieftaincy, chieftainry, city-state, claim, claws, clout, clutches, colony, command, commonweal, commonwealth, compel, competence, competency, competent, compulsion, conjugal right, consequence, constituted authority, control, convincing, country, county, credit, cuttingness, decisiveness, delegated authority, demand, demonic energy, devices, dignitary, dignity, dint, direction, directorship, disposable resources, disposition, divine right, domain, dominance, dominant, domination, dominion, dower, dowry, drag, drive, drive on, driving force, droit, duchy, due, dukedom, dynamic, dynamism, earldom, effect, effective, effectiveness, effectual, efficacious, efficient, elder, electricity, eminence, empery, empire, enchantment, endowment, endurance, energetic, energy, enormity, enormousness, equipment, ergal, esteem, expanse, faculty, father, favor, figure, first place, first prize, fixity of purpose, flair, force, forceful, forcefulness, forcible, formidableness, forte, fortitude, forward, free city, fuel, fullness, function, funds, genius, gift, gigantism, give an impetus, give momentum, goad, good feeling, governance, government, grand duchy, grandeur, grandness, grasp, great, great man, great scope, greatness, grip, gripe, guts, gutsiness, hand, hands, hardiness, headship, heartiness, hegemony, height, helm, highest, hold, hugeness, immensity, impel, impellent, impelling force, imperium, impetus, importance, important person, impressiveness, impulse, impulsion, inalienable right, incentive, incidental power, incisiveness, incite, incitement, incumbents, indirect authority, inertia, infinity, influence, influential, influentiality, inherent authority, insinuation, instinct, intensity, interest, interests, intestinal fortitude, invincible, iron hand, iron will, irresistible force, jurisdiction, jus divinum, kinetic energy, kingdom, kingship, knack, land, largeness, lashings, lawful authority, leadership, legal authority, legitimacy, leverage, lion, long suit, lords of creation, lordship, lot, lump, lustiness, magisterialness, magnate, magnetism, magnitude, makings, man of mark, management, mandant, mandate, mandated territory, mandatee, mandatory, mass, masterdom, mastership, mastery, maximum, means, mess, method, metier, might, mightiness, mighty, mogul, moment, momentum, moral courage, moral fiber, mordancy, most, motivate, motive power, mountain, move, much, muchness, muscle, nabob, name, nation, nationality, natural endowment, natural gift, natural right, ne plus ultra, nervosity, nervousness, new high, notability, notable, obstinacy, palms, panjandrum, paramountcy, parts, peck, person of renown, personage, personality, persuasion, pillar of society, plenitude, poignancy, polis, polity, possession, potence, potency, potent, potential, potential energy, potentiality, powder, power elite, powerful, powerfulness, powers, powers that be, predominance, preponderance, prerogative, prescription, presidency, pressure, prestige, presumptive right, pretense, pretension, primacy, principality, principate, privilege, prodigiousness, propel, proper claim, property right, propulsion, protectorate, province, puissance, puissant, pull, punch, puppet government, puppet regime, purchase, put in motion, qualification, raj, realm, record, recourses, regality, regnancy, reign, reins of government, republic, repute, resorts, resources, right, rightful authority, robustness, royal prerogative, ruggedness, rule, ruling circle, sachem, satellite, say, seneschalty, set agoing, set going, set in motion, settlement, sight, sinew, sinewiness, skill, somebody, something, sovereign nation, sovereignty, speciality, stalwartness, stamina, state, staying power, steam, sticking power, stock, stoutness, strength, strength of mind, strength of purpose, strength of will, strenuous, strenuousness, strings, strong arm, strong flair, strong language, strong point, stupendousness, sturdiness, suasion, subtle influence, suggestion, sultanate, superiority, superpower, supply, supremacy, sway, talent, talents, talons, territory, the goods, the great, the say, the say-so, the stuff, the top, thrust, title, top brass, top people, top spot, toparchia, toparchy, toughness, tremendousness, trenchancy, turn, tycoon, upper hand, vastness, very important person, vested authority, vested interest, vested right, vicarious authority, vigor, vigorous, vigorousness, virtue, vitality, voltage, warrant, ways, ways and means, weight, weighty, what it takes, wherewith, wherewithal, whip hand, whip on, wieldy, will, will of iron, will power, worthy, zenith

ROGET THESAURUS

Power

Vigor

N vigor, power, force, boldness, raciness, intellectual, force, spirit, point, antithesis, piquance, piquancy, verve, glow, fire, warmth, strong language, gravity, sententiousness, elevation, loftiness, sublimity, eloquence, command of words, command of language, vigorous, nervous, powerful, forcible, trenchant, incisive, impressive, sensational, spirited, lively, glowing, sparkling, racy, bold, slashing, pungent, piquant, full of point, pointed, pithy, antithetical, sententious, lofty, elevated, sublime, eloquent, vehement, petulant, impassioned, poetic, in glowing terms, in good set terms, in no measured terms, thoughts that breath and words that burn.

Greatness

N greatness, magnitude, size, multitude, immensity, enormity, infinity, might, strength, intensity, fullness, importance, great quantity, quantity, deal, power, sight, pot, volume, world, mass, heap, stock, peck, bushel, load, cargo, cartload, wagonload, shipload, flood, spring tide, abundance, principal part, chief part, main part, greater part, major part, best part, essential part, bulk, mass, great, greater, large, considerable, fair, above par, big, huge, Herculean, cyclopean, ample, abundant, full, intense, strong, sound, passing, heavy, plenary, deep, high, signal, at its height, in the zenith, world-wide, widespread, far-famed, extensive, wholesale, many, goodly, noble, precious, mighty, sad, grave, heavy, serious, far gone, arrant, downright, utter, uttermost, crass, gross, arch, profound, intense, consummate, rank, uninitiated, red-hot, desperate, glaring, flagrant, stark staring, thorough-paced, thoroughgoing, roaring, thumping, extraordinary, important, unsurpassed, complete, august, grand, dignified, sublime, majestic, vast, immense, enormous, extreme, inordinate, excessive, extravagant, exorbitant, outrageous, preposterous, unconscionable, swinging, monstrous, overgrown, towering, stupendous, prodigious, astonishing, incredible, marvelous, unlimited, unapproachable, unutterable, indescribable, ineffable, unspeakable, inexpressible, beyond expression, fabulous, undiminished, unabated, unreduced, unrestricted, absolute, positive, stark, decided, unequivocal, essential, perfect, finished, remarkable, of mark, marked, pointed, veriest, noteworthy, renowned, truly, decidedly, unequivocally, purely, absolutely, seriously, essentially, fundamentally, radically, downright, in all conscience, for the most part, in the main, entirely, abundantly, widely, far and wide, greatly, much, muckle, well, indeed, very, very much, a deal, no end of, most, not a little, pretty, pretty well, enough, in a great measure, richly, to a large extent, to a great extent, to a gigantic extent, on a large scale, so, never so, ever so, ever so dole, scrap, shred, tag, splinter, rag, much, by wholesale, mighty, powerfully, with a witness, ultra, in the extreme, extremely, exceedingly, intensely, exquisitely, acutely, indefinitely, immeasurably, beyond compare, beyond comparison, beyond measure, beyond all bounds, incalculably, infinitely, preeminently, superlatively, immoderately, monstrously, preposterously, inordinately, exorbitantly, excessively, enormously, out of all proportion, with a vengeance, particularly, remarkably, singularly, curiously, uncommonly, unusually, peculiarly, notably, signally, strikingly, pointedly, mainly, chiefly, famously, egregiously, prominently, glaringly, emphatically, kat exochin, strangely, wonderfully, amazingly, surprisingly, astonishingly, incredibly, marvelously, awfully, stupendously, peculiarly, furiously, severely, desperately, tremendously, extravagantly, confoundedly, deucedly, devilishly, with a vengeance, a outrance, a toute outrance, painfully, sadly, grossly, sorely, bitterly, piteously, grievously, miserably, cruelly, woefully, lamentably, shockingly, frightfully, dreadfully, fearfully, terribly, horribly, a maximis ad minima, greatness knows itself, mightiest powers by deepest calms are fed, minimum decet libere cui multum licet, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.

Number

N number, symbol, numeral, figure, cipher, digit, integer, counter, round number, formula, function, series, sum, difference, complement, subtrahend, product, multiplicand, multiplier, multiplicator, coefficient, multiple, dividend, divisor, factor, quotient, submultiple, fraction, rational number, surd, irrational number, transcendental number, mixed number, complex number, complex conjugate, numerator, denominator, decimal, circulating decimal, repetend, common measure, aliquot part, prime number, prime, relative prime, prime factor, prime pair, reciprocal, totient, binary number, octal number, hexadecimal number, permutation, combination, variation, election, ratio, proportion, comparison, progression, arithmetical progression, geometrical progression, harmonical progression, percentage, permilage, figurate numbers, pyramidal numbers, polygonal numbers, power, root, exponent, index, logarithm, antilogarithm, modulus, base, differential, integral, fluxion, fluent, numeral, complementary, divisible, aliquot, reciprocal, prime, relatively prime, fractional, decimal, figurate, incommensurable, proportional, exponential, logarithmic, logometric, differential, fluxional, integral, totitive, positive, negative, rational, irrational, surd, radical, real, complex, imaginary, finite, infinite, impossible, numerically, modulo.

Authority

N authority, influence, patronage, power, preponderance, credit, prestige, prerogative, jurisdiction, right, direction, government, divine right, dynastic rights, authoritativeness, absoluteness, absolutism, despotism, jus nocendi, jus divinum, mastery, mastership, masterdom, dictation, control, hold, grasp, grip, gripe, reach, iron sway, fangs, clutches, talons, rod of empire, commission, deputy, permission, at the head, dominant, paramount, supreme, predominant, preponderant, in the ascendant, influential, arbitrary, compulsory, stringent, at one's command, in one's power, in one's grasp, under control, in the name of, by the authority of, de par le Roi, in virtue of, under the auspices of, in the hands of, at one's pleasure, by a dash if the pen, by a stroke of the pen, ex mero motu, ex cathedra, from the chair, the gray mare the better horse, every inch a king.

Power

N power, potency, potentiality, jiva, puissance, might, force, energy, dint, right hand, right arm, ascendency, sway, control, prepotency, prepollence, almightiness, omnipotence, authority, strength, ability, ableness, competency, efficacy, efficiency, productivity, expertise (skill), validity, cogency, enablement, vantage ground, influence, pressure, conductivity, elasticity, gravity, electricity, magnetism, galvanism, voltaic electricity, voltaism, electromagnetism, atomic power, nuclear power, thermonuclear power, fuel cell, hydraulic power, water power, hydroelectric power, solar power, solar energy, solar panels, tidal power, wind power, attraction, vis inertiae, vis mortua, vis viva, potential energy, dynamic energy, dynamic friction, dynamic suction, live circuit, live rail, live wire, capability, capacity, quid valeant humeri quid ferre recusent, faculty, quality, attribute, endowment, virtue, gift, property, qualification, susceptibility, powerful, puissant, potential, capable, able, equal to, up to, cogent, valid, efficient, productive, effective, effectual, efficacious, adequate, competent, multipotent, plenipotent, omnipotent, almighty, forcible, (energetic), influential, productive, powerfully, by virtue of, by dint of, a toute force, dos moi pou sto kai kino ten gen, eripuit coelo fulmen sceptrumque tyrannis, fortis cadere cedere non potest.

Strength

N strength, power, energy, vigor, force, main force, physical force, brute force, spring, elasticity, tone, tension, tonicity, stoutness, lustihood, stamina, nerve, muscle, sinew, thews and sinews, physique, pith, pithiness, virtility, vitality, athletics, athleticism, gymnastics, feats of strength, adamant, steel, iron, oak, heart of oak, iron grip, grit, bone, athlete, gymnast, acrobat, superman, Atlas, Hercules, Antaeus, Samson, Cyclops, Goliath, tower of strength, giant refreshed, strengthening, invigoration, refreshment, refocillation, dynamics, statics, strong, mighty, vigorous, forcible, hard, adamantine, stout, robust, sturdy, hardy, powerful, potent, puissant, valid, resistless, irresistible, invincible, proof against, impregnable, unconquerable, indomitable, dominating, inextinguishable, unquenchable, incontestable, more than a match for, overpowering, overwhelming, all powerful, all sufficient, sovereign, able-bodied, athletic, Herculean, Cyclopean, Atlantean, muscular, brawny, wiry, well-knit, broad-shouldered, sinewy, strapping, stalwart, gigantic, manly, man-like, manful, masculine, male, virile, unweakened, unallayed, unwithered, unshaken, unworn, unexhausted, in full force, in full swing, in the plenitude of power, stubborn, thick-ribbed, made of iron, deep-rooted, strong as a lion, strong as a horse, strong as an ox, strong as brandy, sound as a roach, in fine feather, in high feather, built like a brick shithouse, like a giant refreshed, strongly, by force, by main force, our withers are unwrung, Blut und Eisen, coelitus mihi vires, du fort au diable, en habiles gens, ex vi termini, flecti non frangi, he that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves an, inflexible in faith invincible in arms.

Physical Energy

N energy, physical energy, force, power, keenness, intensity, vigor, strength, elasticity, go, high pressure, fire, rush, acrimony, acritude, causiticity, virulence, poignancy, harshness, severity, edge, point, pungency, cantharides, seasoning, activity, agitation, effervescence, ferment, fermentation, ebullition, splutter, perturbation, stir, bustle, voluntary energy, quicksilver, resolution, exertion, excitation, strong, energetic, forcible, active, intense, deep-dyed, severe, keen, vivid, sharp, acute, incisive, trenchant, brisk, rousing, irritation, poignant, virulent, caustic, corrosive, mordant, harsh, stringent, double-edged, double-shotted, double- distilled, drastic, escharotic, racy, potent, radioactive, strongly, fortiter in re, with telling effect, the steam is up, vires acquirit eundo, the race by vigor not by vaunts is won.

Loudness

N loudness, power, loud noise, din, blare, clang, clangor, clatter, noise, bombilation, roar, uproar, racket, hubbub, bobbery, fracas, charivari, trumpet blast, flourish of trumpets, fanfare, tintamarre, peal, swell, blast, larum, boom, bang (explosion), resonance, vociferation, hullabaloo, lungs, Stentor, artillery, cannon, thunder, loud, sonorous, high-sounding, big-sounding, deep, full, powerful, noisy, blatant, clangorous, multisonous, thundering, deafening, trumpet-tongued, ear-splitting, ear-rending, ear-deafening, piercing, obstreperous, rackety, uproarious, enough to wake the dead, enough to wake seven sleepers, shrill &c 410 clamorous stentorian, stentorophonic, loudly, aloud, at the top of one's voice, at the top of one's lungs, lustily, in full cry, the air rings with, the deep dread-bolted thunder.